Semilunar Ganglion Block Therapy

The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with semilunar ganglion block has been widely used at home and abroad. Over the years, this injection therapy has been proved to be effective. It can indeed cure trigeminal neuralgia permanently. However, due to its difficult to master injection technology, mainly the accuracy of puncture operation is difficult to grasp, therefore, the therapeutic effect varies greatly with different techniques. The nerve damage drugs such as glycerol, anhydrous ethanol, phenol solution, doxorubicin, doxorubicin and adriamycin were injected into the semilunar ganglion in the cranial cavity through foramen ovalis to block the second, third or even all three branches of the trigeminal nerve, which can achieve a long-term blocking effect. It is used to treat intractable trigeminal neuralgia, maxillofacial cancer pain and postherpetic pain.

Treatment indication 1. This injection therapy is suitable for all patients with severe and stubborn trigeminal neuralgia, especially the elderly and the weak and the chronic patients with contraindications of craniotomy. 2. Trigeminal neuralgia is involved in the second, third, first, two or all three branches at the same time, and the peripheral branch block is ineffective. 3. Stubborn facial post-herpetic trigeminal neuralgia.

Complications Some complications may be caused by semilunar ganglion block, most of which are due to the inaccurate direction of puncture (hands-free puncture without instrumental positioning) or the excessive depth of the needle into the nearby blood vessels, cerebral nerves and tissues, or the large dose of ethanol (a safe drug used in our hospital -- medical high purity glycerin) flowing into the subarachnoid space and causing damage. The complication rate is very low. Most complications of semilunar ganglion block can be avoided with effort.

The main complications were: sensory loss or abnormality in the block area; Vertigo syndrome; Difficulty in chewing; Cerebral nerve damage; Ipsilateral keratitis, corneal ulcer, etc.

The relationship between injection therapy and craniotomy is complementary. Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia has become rare in recent years. Suitable for craniotomy patients, should be first injection treatment, where craniotomy failed to succeed, or the surgical treatment effect is not good, or after surgery recurrence of patients, injection therapy can also receive a good effect.