Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKRS) and Radiofrequency Lesioning
Gamma knife radiosurgery is technically not a surgery, because there is no cutting involved. The gamma knife accurately sends a high amount of high-energy radiation to where the trigeminal nerve [1] leaves the skull. After the procedure, nerve cells start to die off over the next few months. As they die off, the pain signal gets scrambled and does not get to the brain. In this procedure, you don’t feel relief immediately. It is done on an outpatient basis and it offers many years of pain relief. With GKRS, there is a high chance for the nerve connection to grow.
This procedure involves using a needle to inject heat into the Gasserian ganglion. Radiofrequency lesion I h helps kill pain fibers while protecting other unaffected nerve fibers.