The Clinical Study Of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery For Primary Trigeminal Neuralgia

Objective To analyse the treatment effect and complications of gamma knife radiosurgery for primary trigeminal neuralgia. Methods Between January 2004 and December 2010, 87 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery. The patients were divided into high-dose group(80-85Gy) and low-dose group (70-75Gy). After treatment, the patients were followed-up for long time. Results Total of 87 patients in the group, 82 patients were followed up, lost in 5 cases, follow-up rate was 94%, follow-up period of 3-78 months, average follow-up period of 23 months. Excluding lost to follow-up and the shorter patients, we followed 60 cases of two groups with more than 12 months of follow-up for statistical analysis, of which 25 cases of high-dose group, low dose group of 35 patients. 1 case of high-dose group was ineffective, 96% efficient, low-dose group 2 cases were ineffective, efficiency 94.3% There were no differences between the two groups (P> 0.05). High dose group showed 18 cases of facial numbness, 72% complication rate, low-dose group had 7 cases of facial numbness, 20% complication rate, complication rate of the two groups were significantly different (P <0.05). High-dose group after treatment, complete pain relief time was 2.51 months, the low dose group after treatment, complete pain relief time was 2.67 months, the two groups was no difference in pain relief time (P> 0.05). Found in the relevant factors according to the length of nerve , complications are associated with nerve root radiation length, extending the length of exposure increased the incidence of complications. Conclusions Gamma knife radiosurgery was safe and effective for primary trigeminal neuralgia. it can be offered to patients when medical therapy is ineffective. Trigeminal nerve is exposure of radiation dose and length of treatment was associated with treatment effect.