A “Reposition Technique” Microvascular Decompression in Trigeminal Neuralgia: Clinical Outcomes and Complications.

BACKGROUND

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is effective for pain relief. Previous studies reported modifications of operative technique.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical outcomes and complications of patients diagnosed with primary typical trigeminal neuralgia underwent MVD with reposition technique.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 2009 to 2015, 32 patients underwent MVD by a single surgeon at Prasat Neurological Institute. The authors performed a retrospective chart review. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale (BNI-PS) were used to analyze the pain intensity pre-operatively and 6 months postoperatively comparing the two operative techniques.

RESULTS

Patients experienced significant improvement in both VAS and BNI-PS after MVD in both techniques. The reposition technique declared higher difference VAS compared with traditional technique (6.84 vs. 5.0, p = 0.008), whereas blood loss was significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

Overall, two different techniques provide positive outcomes of pain relief. The authors suggested the optional technique of MVD that would rather restrain the offending vessel than placing the Teflon sponge.