Trigeminal neuralgia: what are the important factors for good operative outcomes with microvascular decompression.
BACKGROUND
Microvascular decompression has been widely used as the first choice in treating trigeminal neuralgia, but in a few patients, facial pain cannot be effectively controlled by microvascular decompression. We sought to clarify the important factors for good operative outcomes.


METHODS
We reviewed 62 patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by microvascular decompression during the period 2000 through 2002, including clinical presentation, operative findings, techniques, and outcomes. Neurovascular conflicts were divided into single contact, contact and indentation, single adhesion, adhesion and indentation, and trigeminal nerve atrophy. Operative outcomes were graded into immediate postoperative complete pain relief (excellent), delayed postoperative complete pain relief (better), significant pain relief (good), and no response to microvascular decompression (poor).


RESULTS
All patients' presentations were typical at the time of pain onset, but the symptom in 17 patients changed to atypical before surgery. During operation, single contact and single adhesion was found in 14 patients and 15 patients, respectively; contact or adhesion in combination with indentation was found in 7 patients and 18 patients, respectively; atrophy occurred in 8 patients. Postoperatively, immediate and delayed complete pain relief was achieved in 32 (51.6%) patients and 17 (27.4%) patients, respectively; 11(17.7%) patients got significant pain relief; and 2 patients showed no response. The overall rate of complete pain relief in patients with shorter duration, typical presentation, artery compression and complete decompression was higher than that in patients with longer duration, atypical presentation, venous compression, and incomplete decompression.


CONCLUSIONS
Shorter duration, typical presentation, single artery compression, and complete decompression are the positive factors for better operative outcomes with microvascular decompression. Worse outcomes are usually related to venous compression, longer duration, and atypical presentation.
Li
Shi-Ting
ST
Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Pan
Qinggang
Q
Liu
Ningtao
N
Shen
Feng
F
Liu
Zhong
Z
Guan
Yuhang
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*