scholarly journals The Durability of Pain Relief Following Endoscope-Assisted Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra D Baker ◽  
Melvin Field

Abstract INTRODUCTION Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is a facial pain disorder that is paroxysmal, stabbing, and produces a shooting pain that affects the face due to the compression of the trigeminal nerve. Literature has suggested that the use of an endoscope for microvascular decompression (eMVD), as opposed to a microscope alone, is more likely to identify the source of neurovascular compression and ensure that the nerve is adequately decompressed. However, the recurrence of TGN pain continues to be an issue for patients. This project will assess the long-term success of eMVD using the reduction in Barrow Pain Scale score and recurrence rate at 1 yr. METHODS This retrospective chart review aims at exploring the efficacy of eMVD for TGN by studying rates of recurrence in a cohort of 300 patients and comparing them to the literature using descriptive statistics. This is the largest study to date evaluating postoperative recurrence for eMVD for TGN. RESULTS In this cohort, on average, patients reduced their pain scale by 2.99 units on the Barrow Pain Scale. Additionally, 95.5% of patients experienced an immediate pain relief after eMVD surgery, while only 4.3% had no improvement in TGN pain after the procedure. In this eMVD patient cohort, 22% of patients had partial recurrence of TGN pain. CONCLUSION The endoscope seems to provide long-term success for eliminating TGN pain and is at least as successful as traditional MVD. Over 95% of patients with follow-up data experienced an immediate pain relief, indicating that the efficacy of this procedure is excellent. Recurrence rates of TGN pain seem to be comparable to the existing literature on traditional MVD approaches. This cohort had a partial recurrence rate of 22%, while previous MVD studies have shown significant recurrence rates between 3% and 32%. This indicates that significant recurrence rates of TGN need to be further investigated.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyu Chen ◽  
Yuming Niu ◽  
Fan Meng ◽  
Pan Xu ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is known to reoccur following microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery. However, the rates and contributing factors related to PTN recurrence remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the postoperative recurrence rates and related influencing factors of patients with PTN after MVD. Additionally, recurrence rates after different treatments were compared to provide guidelines for clinicians.Methods: We conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses in accordance with the preferred reporting items of the PRISMA guidelines. We searched nine databases, namely, the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases, from establishment to July 13, 2020, selecting for studies about the long-term postoperative efficacy of MVD in the treatment of PTN. Factors associated with higher recurrence rates after MVD and long-term postoperative results of other treatments underwent formal meta-analysis, where odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The dose-response model was used to inspect the associations between several factors and higher recurrence rates.Results: Seventy-four studies (8,172 patients, 32 case series studies, and 42 non-randomized controlled trials) were analyzed in our research. Overall, 956 out of 8,172 patients relapsed, and the pooled recurrence rate was 0.096 (0.080–0.113). Influencing factors of relatively higher recurrence rates included atypical trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, lack of nerve groove, non-arterial compression, patients who were 50–60 years old, and longer disease duration. Dose–response analysis showed that the recurrence rate had a significant trend with the published year and the follow-up time. Simultaneously, the recurrence rate of MVD treatment was much lower than that of conventional drug treatment, gamma knife surgery, percutaneous balloon compression, and radiofrequency thermocoagulation. When the surgical technique was improved or combined with partial sensory rhizotomy (PSR), the postoperative recurrence rates were significantly reduced.Conclusions: Even for PTN patients who have a successful operation, ~10% of them will still relapse. This research identifies several factors that can affect the recurrence rate. Compared with other operations, MVD has a relatively lower recurrence rate. Our analysis suggests that improved surgical techniques and combining PSR and MVD will yield better results.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42020159276.


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
pp. 1405-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Staudt ◽  
Holger Joswig ◽  
Gwynedd E. Pickett ◽  
Keith W. MacDougall ◽  
Andrew G. Parrent

OBJECTIVEThe prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS-TN) is higher than in the general population (idiopathic TN [ITN]). Glycerol rhizotomy (GR) is a percutaneous lesioning surgery commonly performed for the treatment of medically refractory TN. While treatment for acute pain relief is excellent, long-term pain relief is poorer. The object of this study was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous retrogasserian GR for the treatment of MS-TN versus ITN.METHODSA retrospective chart review was performed, identifying 219 patients who had undergone 401 GR procedures from 1983 to 2018 at a single academic institution. All patients were diagnosed with medically refractory MS-TN (182 procedures) or ITN (219 procedures). The primary outcome measures of interest were immediate pain relief and time to pain recurrence following initial and repeat GR procedures. Secondary outcomes included medication usage and presence of periprocedural hypesthesia.RESULTSThe initial pain-free response rate was similar between groups (p = 0.726): MS-TN initial GR 89.6%; MS-TN repeat GR 91.9%; ITN initial GR 89.6%; ITN repeat GR 87.0%. The median time to recurrence after initial GR was similar between MS-TN (2.7 ± 1.3 years) and ITN (2.1 ± 0.6 years) patients (p = 0.87). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the time to recurrence after repeat GR between MS-TN (2.3 ± 0.5 years) and ITN patients (1.2 ± 0.2 years; p < 0.05). The presence of periprocedural hypesthesia was highly predictive of pain-free survival (p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONSPatients with MS-TN achieve meaningful pain relief following GR, with an efficacy comparable to that following GR in patients with ITN. Initial and subsequent GR procedures are equally efficacious.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil K Gupta

Abstract INTRODUCTION Trigeminal neuralgia has always been a disease of conflict from pathological and management perspectives. Despite advances in the radiological imaging, evidence from autopsy studies, and intraoperative findings, concrete answers are not in sight. GKRS has been a strong contender among available treatment options for the management of trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS All patients were evaluated on clinical criteria, BNI scale for intensity of pain, and facial hypoesthesia (if any) in a protocol-based manner. Only patients with BNI III to V were offered GKRS as a treatment modality. The Marseille point was targeted with a 70 to 90 Gy dose at 50% isodose. Patients were informed about all available treatment options with long-term prognosis and pain control rates. Patients in need of an immediate pain relief, in failed GKRS, and in a severe pain jeopardizing routine life and eating habits were not offered GKRS and were managed with microvascular decompression. RESULTS A total of 108 (65 males, 43 females) patients received GKRS with the Perfexion model since 2009. Eighty-two percent of the patients received GKRS for primary trigeminal neuralgia, while the rest received GKRS for secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to skull base lesions (meningioma, schwannoma, cerebellar AVM, etc). A total of 78% of the patients had preoperative BNI scale IV, while 19% and 3% of the patients had grade III and V scale pain, respectively. Ninety-four percent patients gained BNI scale III intensity pain within 3 mo of GKRS. The 3-yr pain control rate (BNI I-II) could be attained in 81% of the patients. Twelve percent of the patients remained in BNI grade III. Two patients needed redo GKRS for their pain recurrence. CONCLUSION It remains uncontested that MVD provides the best long-term pain-free control in patients of trigeminal neuralgia; however, GKRS remains a valuable feasible option for a selected group of patients. GKRS should be offered as an alternative treatment modality in patients not in urgent need of pain relief. In failed GKRS, authors did not encounter any difficulty in microvascular decompression.


2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth C. Tyler-Kabara ◽  
Amin B. Kassam ◽  
Michael H. Horowitz ◽  
Louise Urgo ◽  
Constantinos Hadjipanayis ◽  
...  

Object. Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become one of the primary treatments for typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Not all patients with facial pain, however, suffer from the typical form of this disease; many patients who present for surgical intervention actually have atypical TN. The authors compare the results of MVD performed for typical and atypical TN at their institution. Methods. The results of 2675 MVDs in 2264 patients were reviewed using information obtained from the department database. The authors examined immediate postoperative relief in 2003 patients with typical and 672 with atypical TN, and long-term follow-up results in patients for whom more than 5 years of follow-up data were available (969 with typical and 219 with atypical TN). Outcomes were divided into three categories: excellent, pain relief without medication; good, mild or intermittent pain controlled with low-dose medication; and poor, no or poor pain relief with large amounts of medication. The results for typical and atypical TN were compared and patient history and pain characteristics were evaluated for possible predictive factors. Conclusions. In this study, MVD for typical TN resulted in complete postoperative pain relief in 80% of patients, compared with 47% with complete relief in those with atypical TN. Significant pain relief was achieved after 97% of MVDs in patients with typical TN and after 87% of these procedures for atypical TN. When patients were followed for more than 5 years, the long-term pain relief after MVD for those with typical TN was excellent in 73% and good in an additional 7%, for an overall significant pain relief in 80% of patients. In contrast, following MVD for atypical TN, the long-term results were excellent in only 35% of cases and good in an additional 16%, for overall significant pain relief in only 51%. Memorable onset and trigger points were predictive of better postoperative pain relief in both atypical and typical TN. Preoperative sensory loss was a negative predictor for good long-term results following MVD for atypical TN.


Author(s):  
Johannes Herta ◽  
Tobias Schmied ◽  
Theresa Bettina Loidl ◽  
Wei-te Wang ◽  
Wolfgang Marik ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To analyze characteristics associated with long-term pain relief after microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Description of associated morbidity and complication avoidance. Methods One hundred sixty-five patients with TGN underwent 171 MVD surgeries at the authors’ institution. Patient characteristics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets were obtained through the hospital’s archiving system. Patients provided information about pre- and post-operative pain characteristics and neurologic outcome. Favorable outcome was defined as a Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score of I to III with post-operative improvement of I grade. Results Type of TGN pain with purely paroxysmal pain (p = 0.0202*) and TGN classification with classical TGN (p = 0.0372*) were the only significant predictors for long-term pain relief. Immediate pain relief occurred in 90.6% of patients with a recurrence rate of 39.4% after 3.5 ± 4.6 years. MRI reporting of a neurovascular conflict had a low negative predictive value of 39.6%. Mortality was 0% with major complications observed in 8.2% of patients. Older age was associated with lower complication rates (p = 0.0009***). Re-MVD surgeries showed improved long-term pain relief in four out of five cases. Conclusions MVD is a safe and effective procedure even in the elderly. It has the unique potential to cure TGN if performed on a regular basis, and if key surgical steps are respected. Early MVD should be offered in case of medical treatment failure and paroxysmal pain symptoms. The presence of a neurovascular conflict on MRI is not mandatory. In case of recurrence, re-MVD is a good treatment option that should be discussed with patients. Highlights • Long-term analysis of pain relief after MVD. • Positive predictors for outcome: classical TGN and purely paroxysmal pain. • Presence of neurovascular conflict in MRI is not mandatory for MVD surgery. • Analysis of complications and surgical nuances for avoidance. • MVD is a safe procedure also in the elderly.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Günther ◽  
Venelin M. Gerganov ◽  
Lennart Stieglitz ◽  
Wolf Ludemann ◽  
Amir Samii ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Multiple studies have proved that microvascular decompression (MVD) is the treatment of choice in cases of medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In the elderly, however, the surgical risks related to MVD are assumed to be unacceptably high and various alternative therapies have been proposed. We evaluated the outcomes of MVD in patients aged older than 65 years of age and compared them with the outcomes in a matched group of younger patients. The focus was on procedure-related morbidity rate and long-term outcome. METHODS This was a retrospective study of 112 patients with TN operated on consecutively over 22 years. The main outcome measures were immediate and long-term postoperative pain relief and neurological status, especially function of trigeminal, facial, and cochlear nerves, as well as surgical complications. A questionnaire was used to assess long-term outcome: pain relief, duration of a pain-free period, need for pain medications, time to recurrence, pain severity, and need for additional treatment. RESULTS The mean age was 70.35 years. The second and third branches of the trigeminal nerve were most frequently affected (37.3%). The mean follow-up period was 90 months (range, 48–295 months). Seventy-five percent of the patients were completely pain free, 11% were never pain free, and 14% experienced recurrences. No statistically significant differences existed in the outcome between the younger and older patient groups. Postoperative morbidity included trigeminal hypesthesia in 6.25%, hypacusis in 5.4%, and complete hearing loss, vertigo, and partial facial nerve palsy in 0.89% each. Cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis occurred in 1 patient each. There were no mortalities in both groups. CONCLUSION MVD for TN is a safe procedure even in the elderly. The risk of serious morbidity or mortality is similar to that in younger patients. Furthermore, no significant differences in short- and long-term outcome were found. Thus, MVD is the treatment of choice in patients with medically refractory TN, unless their general condition prohibits it.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Carpenter ◽  
James K Liu

Abstract INTRODUCTION Microvascular decompression (MVD) is an effective and durable treatment for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) due to neurovascular compression (NVC). In the absence of NVC, the traditional MVD is less effective in achieving long-term pain relief. Internal neurolysis at the root entry zone (REZ) of the trigeminal nerve has been described in the literature; however, there are few reports of long-term outcome after this procedure. Furthermore, this is the first study to combine this procedure with additional partial neurectomy. METHODS This is a retrospective review of the senior author's patients with TN who underwent retrosigmoid craniectomy for MVD with internal neurolysis and partial neurectomy. Primary indications were patients with TN and no evidence of NVC intraoperatively. A total of 9 patients were included in the analysis. Three cases were of recurrent TN. The technique was performed with an 11-blade or arachnoid knife to open the perineurium in a longitudinal fashion at the REZ. A disc dissector was used to comb the fascicles along the longitudinal course, and a partial neurectomy was performed with a microscissors to make three selective cuts into the fascicles at the REZ. Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) facial pain and numbness scales were used as postoperative assessment. RESULTS At median follow up of 12 mo (range: 2 to 34), 8 of 9 patients (89%) had a BNI-pain score of I (no trigeminal pain, no medications). Two of nine patients (22%) had a BNI-numbness score of I (no numbness); seven (78%) had a BNI-numbness score of II (mild facial numbness that is not bothersome). CONCLUSION Internal neurolysis with partial neurectomy appears to be an effective and potentially durable treatment option for patients with TN (primary or recurrent) without NVC. Larger series with longer follow-up is indicated to further evaluate the utility of this procedure.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra D Baker ◽  
Melvin Field

Abstract INTRODUCTION Trigeminal Neuralgia (TGN) is a horrific facial pain disorder that is paroxysmal, stabbing, shooting pain that affects the face due to compression of the trigeminal nerve. Literature has suggested that the use of an endoscope for microvascular decompression (eMVD), as opposed to a microscope alone, is more likely to identify the source of neurovascular compression and ensure that the nerve is adequately decompressed. MVD for TGN is successful in many patients however, this procedure still occasionally results in hearing loss, cerebellar injury, double vision, infection, dysesthesias, unresolved TGN facial pain, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Many of these adverse outcomes are a result of inadvertent damage to surrounding tissue from the surgical tools. Because eMVD requires less retraction, offers better visualization, and is less invasive it seems to be a promising technique in the surgical management of TGN. METHODS This retrospective chart review aims to explore the efficacy of eMVD for TGN by studying rates of adverse events and comparing them to the literature using descriptive statistics. This is the largest study to date evaluating complications associated with eMVD for TGN. RESULTS In this cohort, adverse events include facial numbness (4.3%), dizziness (0.4%), ataxia (0.4%), diplopia (1.9%), infection (0.8%), spinal fluid leak (0.4%), stroke (0.4%), and chronic headaches (0.8%). There were no cases of facial paralysis, hearing loss, or dysphagia. CONCLUSION Despite 2D visualization with the endoscope, neurologic injury does not appear to be any higher than with traditional 3D MVD and is safe in this patient population. The endoscope seems to be a very efficacious tool for TGN. In the literature for traditional MVD rates of adverse events are not consistent. In this cohort of patients, the rates of adverse events seem to be lower or similar to MVD. Regardless of technique, this surgery has low rates of complications so researchers should continue to monitor adverse outcomes to explore significant trends.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Broggi ◽  
Angelo Franzini ◽  
Giovanni Lasio ◽  
Cesare Giorgi ◽  
Domenico Servello

Abstract Long-term results (average follow-up, 9.3 years) obtained in 1000 consecutive patients suffering from cryptogenetic (“essential”) trigeminal neuralgia treated with percutaneous thermorhizotomy are analyzed. Pain relief was obtained in 95% of the treated patients. Permanent morbidity was as follows: masseter weakness in 105 patients; oculomotor palsies in 5 patients; weakening of the corneal reflex in 197 patients, 6 of whom requested an ocular operation for keratitis; and painful dysesthesia in 52 patients, 15 of whom developed a painful anesthesia syndrome. There was a recurrence rate of 18.1%, and a correlation between postoperative sensory deficit and the cure rate was found. These results are discussed and compared to the results obtained with different techniques.


Author(s):  
N Zagzoog ◽  
A Attar ◽  
R Takroni ◽  
M Alotaibi ◽  
K Reddy

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is commonly used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with positive clinical outcomes. Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression (E-MVD) has been proposed as a minimally invasive, effective alternative, but a comparative review of the two approaches in the literature has not been conducted. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis comparing patient outcome rates and complications for both techniques. From a pool of 1,039 studies, 22 articles were selected for review: 12 open MVD and 10 E-MVD. The total number of patients was 6,734. Results: Good pain relief was achieved in 81% of MVD and 88% of E-MVD patients, with a mean recurrence rate of 14% and 9% respectively. Average rates of complications in MVD versus E-MVD included facial paresis or weakness, 9%, 3%; -hearing loss, 4%, 1%; cerebrospinal leak, both 3%; cerebellar damage and infection, 2%, <1%; and mortality <1%, 0% respectively. Conclusions: The reviewed literature revealed similar clinical outcomes with respect to pain relief for both approaches. Recurrence rate and incidence of complications, notably facial paresis and hearing loss were higher for MVD. We concluded that E-MVD appears to offer at least as good a surgical outcome as MVD, with possibly a shorter operative time, smaller craniectomy and lower recurrence rates.


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