title: Avoiding abducens nerve palsy during the percutaneous balloon compression procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purpose of this study is to underline the factors which are likely to increase the risk of a sixth nerve injury after percutaneous balloon compression of the gasserian ganglion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records and intraoperative radiological images of 79 consecutive patients, who underwent percutaneous balloon compression for treating drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-operatively, transient palsy of the sixth nerve developed in 2 patients. According to their intraoperative radiographs, the side effect resulted from irregular balloon shape and inflation of the balloon towards the sellar floor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomic position and the shape of the inflated balloon represent key factors in determining the procedure's benefit or risk of complications.
authors.affiliation: Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School of Patras, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Zinovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kefalopoulou
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantoyannis
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008499:Medical Records; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*