The patient receives surgery in the hospital. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
A 36-year-old woman from Europe identified as Ou – who had been enduring trigeminal neuralgia for 14 years – recently found relief at the Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital affiliated with Tongji University.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain disorder characterized by intense pain similar to an electric shock on one side of the face. It affects the trigeminal nerve, transmitting signals from the face to the brain.
Ou had trigeminal neuralgia for 14 years without a definitive diagnosis or treatment. After experiencing debilitating pain during a visit to Shanghai in August 2024, she sought treatment at the hospital.
The Department of Neurosurgery at the hospital successfully conducted two surgeries for Ou – percutaneous ganglion balloon compression, or PBC, with robot navigation techniques and microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.
The application of neuro-navigation robots in PBC surgery has been praised for its precision and safety. With their assistance, surgeons can ensure accurate punctures, reduce the procedure’s duration, and lower costs.
Doctor Zhang Haitao at the hospital said extensive research indicated that the condition was linked to demyelination of the trigeminal nerve in the brainstem area.
The compression of small blood vessels in this area is considered an important factor leading to demyelination, Zhang added.
Source: Shanghai Observer
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250126/b5d17ea84b1348e9a9e2227b8386e731.html