title: A prospective study of 39 patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated with percutaneous balloon compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common facial pain. It may be treated with percutaneous balloon compression (PBC), which is considered to be a safe and efficient procedure. The purpose of this study was to review our results with PBC and to assess the factors influencing the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multivariate analysis was used to study 39 patients during a 50-month postoperative period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was predominance of the female gender (54%), the right side of the face (84%) and V2V3 roots of trigeminal nerve (33%). The mean age was 62.3 years. No major complications or deaths occurred. Among all variables, postoperative hypoesthesia was the single prognostic factor capable of positively influencing the results (p=0.02). Most patients (80%) were pain-free after 50 months with a 90% satisfaction rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBC was a safe procedure with low morbidity, no mortality, high approval ratings, and was an important improving on patients' quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosurgery, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. wuilker@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Wuilker Knoner
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Marcelo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Linhares
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy*