ArticleActa neurochirurgica2021
Microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia: predictors of pain relief, complication avoidance, and lessons learned.
Article in Acta neurochirurgica, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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17 citing papers in PubMed, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- When tongue pain is trigeminal neuralgia: illustrative cases.Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Microvascular Decompression in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia Previously Treated with Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery.Brain sciences · 2026Article
- Preoperative imaging evaluation of primary trigeminal neuralgia using 3D TOF-MRA and 3D FIESTA-c: A retrospective study of 412 cases.Journal of neurology · 2026Article
- Mini-invasive Anterior Petrosal Intertentorial Approach for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Rationale and Limits of the Technique.Journal of neurological surgery. Part B, Skull base · 2026Article
- Outcomes of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia: a retrospective analysis from a Mexican high-specialty center.Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria · 2026Article
- A comparison of long-term outcomes between interposition with teflon and autologous muscle in microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.Neurosurgical review · 2025Article
- Article
- Circumferential nerve wrapping with muscle autograft: a modified strategy of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.Neurosurgical review · 2025Article
- Microvascular Decompression Using the Gelatin Sponge Insertion Technique for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) · 2025Article
- Retreatment predictors after percutaneous balloon gangliolysis for trigeminal neuralgia.Neurosurgical review · 2024Article
- Application research on the diagnosis of classic trigeminal neuralgia based on VB-Net technology and radiomics.BMC medical imaging · 2024Article
- Factors associated with outcomes following microvascular decompression for the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of dental anesthesia and pain medicine · 2024Review
- The outcomes of microvascular decompression for primary trigeminal neuralgia: insights from a single-center experience and technical advancements.Frontiers in surgery · 2024Article
- Use of a 3D exoscope in microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve root.Neurosurgical focus: Video · 2024Article
- Retrospective comparison of percutaneous balloon compression and radiofrequency-thermocoagulation in the management of trigeminal neuralgia.Acta neurochirurgica · 2023Article
- Identifying symptomatic trigeminal nerves from MRI in a cohort of trigeminal neuralgia patients using radiomics.Neuroradiology · 2022Article
- Microvascular decompression: Diversified of imaging uses, advantages of treating trigeminal neuralgia and improvement after the application of endoscopic technology.Frontiers in neurology · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo analyze characteristics associated with long-term pain relief after microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Description of associated morbidity and complication avoidance.
methodsOne 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.
resultsType 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.
conclusionsMVD 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.
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