Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder that causes agonising pain on one side of the patient’s face. The trigeminal nerve is affected by this condition (the nerve that transmits sensations from the face to the brain).
Radiofrequency Ablation is a surgical procedure that uses high-frequency heat to destroy the brain’s ability to transmit pain signals to the trigeminal nerve.
The patient is anaesthetized before a needle is placed into the mouth corner to access the trigeminal nerve at the base of the skull. To confirm the nerve’s location, an x-ray is taken. When the patient falls asleep again, the doctor uses radiofrequency heat to damage the nerve, causing numbness in the face and reducing pain in conjunction with acupuncture.
Following surgery, the patient is observed in the hospital for 6 to 8 hours. Driving and using machinery should be avoided post surgery.
Mr. G. Gopal Reddy from Guntakal, underwent a Radiofrequency Ablation for Trigeminal Neuralgia, the procedure done by Dr. B. Ravisuman Reddy, Consultant Neuro & Spine Surgeon, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.