Prospective Study of Neuroendoscopy versus Microscopy: 213 Cases of Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia Performed by One Neurosurgeon.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and complications of microvascular decompression (MVD) by complete neuroendoscopy versus microscopy for 213 cases of trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

METHODS

Between January 2014 and January 2016, 213 patients with TN were randomly assigned to the neuroendoscopy (n = 105) or microscopy (n = 114) group for MVD via the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. All procedures were performed by the same neurosurgeon. Follow-up was conducted by telephone interview. Statistical data were analyzed with the chi-square test, and a probability (P) value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Chi-square test was conducted using SAS 9.4 software (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA).

RESULTS

There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in pain-free condition immediately post procedure, pain-free condition 1 year post procedure, hearing loss, facial hypoesthesia, transient ataxia, aseptic meningitis, intracranial infections, and herpetic lesions of the lips. There were no instances of death, facial paralysis, cerebral hemorrhage, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant differences in the cure rates or incidences of surgical complications between neuroendoscopic and microscopic MVD.