title: Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression rhizotomy: experience in 27 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous ganglion balloon compression (PBC) is a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven (19 female and 8 male) patients, who presented with classical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, were included. Age ranged from 34 to 91 years (median 62 years), 33 procedures were performed. Duration of the symptoms ranged from 1 year to 30 years (median 5 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the procedure, pain relief was reported in 25 (93%) patients. In two patients, the pain remained the same. The pain free period ranged from 2 to 74 months (median 15 months). A mean duration of analgesia was longer in patients with ideal pear shape of balloon at the time of the procedure compared to nonideal shape (P = 0.01). No major complications occurred in our group of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression is a safe, simple, and effective method for temporary pain relief in a selective group of trigeminal neuralgia patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia. t.strojnik@amis.net
authors.forename: Tadej
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trojnik
authors.forename: Tomaž
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ŝmigoc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019051:Rhizotomy / Q000379:methods*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000601:surgery*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*