Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Orofacial Pain Management

The pain ⁤management⁢ teams at the⁤ LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong‍ (HKUMed) and Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) have introduced percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) as a novel treatment option for patients suffering from debilitating chronic ‌facial pain. The teams began performing this complex neuroablative procedure in 2024,and so far,40 patients have ⁣benefited from this ​powerful and‍ durable treatment.

Chronic orofacial pain, including conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia-characterized by sudden, severe, ‌electric shock-like facial pain-and pain from herpes ‍zoster, imposes a significant burden on patients. It often causes ⁢psychological distress⁣ and functional impairment, severely impacting ⁣their quality of life.

Dr.Stanley Wong Sau-ching, Clinical Associate Professor in ⁢the Department of Anesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed,‌ said, “Conventional pain management ‌methods for orofacial pain frequently ⁣enough involve neuropathic pain medications, but some patients experience inadequate⁤ relief ⁤and intolerable side ‍effects with varied success rates. Thanks to the introduction of PBC, patients who are unable or⁤ unwilling to undergo more invasive surgeries‌ now ‍have a promising alternative​ for pain management.”

Emerging as an effective ​alternative for pain relief

PBC is an interventional technique designed‌ to alleviate pain associated with the trigeminal nerve, which⁤ is responsible for facial sensation.The procedure involves inserting a​ tiny balloon through the ⁢cheek⁤ into the trigeminal ganglion near ‍the ⁤base of⁤ the⁣ skull and ⁤inflating⁣ it with contrast medium to gently compress ⁤the nerve’s pain fibers. Proper⁤ placement is confirmed by​ fluoroscopic imaging, which

Hong Kong’s pain treatment landscape has ⁢expanded with the introduction of Pulsed Radiofrequency Cryoablation (PBC),​ a minimally invasive technique ⁢offering relief for‌ chronic facial pain. This new option complements existing treatments like Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), providing clinicians​ with⁢ a broader range of tools to address complex cases.

PBC utilizes a combination of pulsed radiofrequency energy and cooling ​to selectively target ‌and modulate pain signals. it’s particularly beneficial ​for patients with ​trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, and other chronic facial ⁢pain syndromes. PBC can be ‍considered when multiple branches of the trigeminal nerve are involved, or for patients who prefer​ to avoid awake sensory testing. RFA remains an excellent treatment option for orofacial pain, especially for isolated lower-facial pain ​where selective lesioning is desirable.

“The addition of PBC to Hong Kong’s pain treatment options offers new ⁢hope​ for patients with challenging facial pain conditions,” concluded Dr. Stanley‌ Wong Sau-ching.⁣ “We can now tailor treatment to the individual.⁤ PBC offers durable relief ​with ​a strong safety ‌profile, particularly ‍for complex ⁢cases. Optimal management is about ⁤having the right⁤ tool for ​the right patient.”