Microvascular decompression versus percutaneous procedures for typical trigeminal neuralgia: personal experience.

This study includes 127 patients treated for typical trigeminal neuralgia, 74 of whom underwent a percutaneous microcompression (PMC), 33 a radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) and 20 were explored for microvascular decompression (MVD). A mean follow-up of 24 months was reached by all the groups. Pain relief was evaluated as an 'all or none' effect. At hospital discharge, pain had disappeared in 93.2% of the patients treated with PMC, in 81.8% of those treated with RFT, and in 85% of the MVD group. At 24 months the effect was maintained by 57.2% of the PMC group, 57.6% of the RFT, and by 75% of the MVD group. Marked dysesthesia was reported by 6.7% of the patients treated with PMC, and by 24.2% of those who received a RFT. Impairment of masticatory function was observed in 10% of the PMC patients. Ipsilateral hypoacusia and transient IV nerve palsy in 1 patient was the only major complication after MVD.