Pune: A 67-year-old woman suffering from debilitating facial pain for the past five years has found significant relief after undergoing an advanced brain surgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia at Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune.
The patient had been living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, a neurological condition that causes sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain in the face.
Over time, the pain became so intense that routine activities such as eating, speaking, brushing her teeth, and washing her face became extremely difficult.
Despite prolonged medication therapy, her symptoms continued to worsen, severely impacting her quality of life and emotional well-being.
Following a detailed clinical evaluation and advanced neuroimaging, doctors identified that the Superior Cerebellar Artery was compressing the Trigeminal Nerve, triggering repeated episodes of severe facial pain associated with Trigeminal Neuralgia.
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Based on the findings, the medical team recommended Microvascular Decompression (MVD), a specialised surgical procedure widely regarded as the gold standard treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Speaking about the case, Dr. Sachin Chemate Patil, Consultant – Neurosurgeon, Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, said, “Trigeminal Neuralgia is often considered one of the most painful neurological conditions, and many patients silently suffer for years thinking medications are the only option. In selected patients, advanced microsurgical techniques can provide long-term relief and significantly improve quality of life.
While conventional Microvascular Decompression surgery usually involves placing a small Teflon material between the nerve and the blood vessel to reduce pressure, in this case we performed an advanced ‘Transposition Technique’.
In this technique, the artery causing the compression is carefully separated from the nerve and repositioned away from it.”
Highlighting the advanced surgical approach used to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia, he further added, “The artery is then fixed securely to the surrounding membrane using specialised medical glue, which helps remove the source of irritation without placing any material between the nerve and the blood vessel.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment are extremely important, especially when symptoms start affecting routine daily activities.”
The surgery was successful, and the patient experienced substantial relief from the severe facial pain soon after the procedure.
Following the treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia, she is now able to eat, speak, and carry out her daily activities comfortably after years of suffering.
This case underscores the growing availability of advanced neurosurgical treatments in Pune and highlights how timely intervention for Trigeminal Neuralgia can significantly improve patient outcomes.
The successful treatment also offers hope to individuals living with chronic facial pain conditions who may benefit from specialised surgical care when medication alone is not effective.
