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Microvascular decompression in supinated position for trigeminal neuralgija treatment

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Aim: To describe the operating technique and efficacy of microvascular decompression of trigeminus done in patients in supinated position. Patients and methods: During 2009, 2010 and 2011 in Department of neurosurgery University hospital Dubrava microvascular decompression was performed on 48 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. There were 22 male and 26 female patients with average age 56 years and average duration of pain 7 years. A total of 16 patients had pain distribution in only one trigeminal branch, 25 had pain in two branches and 7 in three branches. Results: A total of 43 patients had a clear neurovascular conflict intraoperatively and 42 patients had initial pain improvement. Discussion and conslusion: Microvascular decompression is the only treatment of trigeminal neuralgia that affects the cause of the illnes and is a good and effective method performed in the supinated position.
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hp://hrcak.srce.hr/medicina
medicina uminensis 2012, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 333-337 333
Sažetak. Cilj: Prikaza operacijsku tehniku i učinkovitost mikrovaskularne dekompresije trige-
minusa provedene u supinacijskom položaju bolesnika. Bolesnici i metode: Tijekom 2009.,
2010. i 2011. godine na Zavodu za neurokirurgiju KB “Dubrava” operirano je 48 bolesnika s
neuralgijom trigeminusa; učinjena im je mikrovaskularna dekompresija živca trigeminusa.
Operirana su 22 muškarca i 26 žena, prosječne staros od 56 godina i prosječnog trajanja bo-
les 7 godina; kod 16 bolesnika bol je bio lokaliziran u području inervacije jedne grane trigemi-
nusa, kod 25 bolesnika u području inervacije dviju grana, a kod 7 bolesnika u području inerva-
cije svih triju grana trigeminusa. Rezulta: Kod 43 bolesnika nađen je jasan neurovaskularni
konikt. Početni uspjeh operacijskog liječenja (potpuni nestanak bolova ili prisutni značajno
blaži bolovi) zabilježen je kod 42 bolesnika. Rasprava i zaključak: Mikrovaskularna dekompre-
sija koja predstavlja jedino uzročno liječenje neuralgije trigeminusa dobra je i učinkovita meto-
da liječenja te boles te se uspješno može proves u supinacijskom položaju bolesnika.
Ključne riječi: mikrovaskularna dekompresija, neuralgija trigeminusa, neurovaskularni konikt
Abstract. Aim: To describe the operang technique and ecacy of microvascular decompres-
sion of trigeminus done in paents in supinated posion. Paents and methods: During 2009,
2010 and 2011 in Department of neurosurgery University hospital Dubrava microvascular de-
compression was performed on 48 paents with trigeminal neuralgia. There were 22 male
and 26 female paents with average age 56 years and average duraon of pain 7 years. A total
of 16 paents had pain distribuon in only one trigeminal branch, 25 had pain in two branch-
es and 7 in three branches. Results: A total of 43 paents had a clear neurovascular conict
intraoperavely and 42 paents had inial pain improvement. Discussion and conslusion: Mi-
crovascular decompression is the only treatment of trigeminal neuralgia that aects the cause
of the illnes and is a good and eecve method performed in the supinated posion.
Key words: microvascular decompression, neurovascular conict, trigeminal neuralgia
Adresa za dopisivanje:
*Domagoj Dlaka, dr. med.
Zavod za neurokirurgiju,
Klinička bolnica “Dubrava”, Zagreb
Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10 000 Zagreb
e-mail: domagojdlaka@gmail.com
Zavod za neurokirurgiju,
Klinička bolnica “Dubrava”, Zagreb
Prispjelo: 5. 4. 2012.
Prihvaćeno: 12. 7. 2012.
Mikrovaskularna dekompresija u
supinacijskom položaju za liječenje neuralgije
trigeminusa
Microvascular decompression in supinated posion for trigeminal
neuralgija treatment
Darko Chudy, Domagoj Dlaka*, Fadi Almahariq, Dominik Romić, Jurica Maraković,
Gordan Grahovac
Stručni članak/Professional paper
334 hp://hrcak.srce.hr/medicina
D. Chudy, D. Dlaka, F. Almahariq et al.: Mikrovaskularna dekompresija u supinacijskom položaju za liječenje neuralgije trigeminusa
medicina uminensis 2012, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 333-337
UVOD
Neuralgija trigeminusa (NT) je kronični bolni sin-
drom karakteriziran rekurirajućim iznenadnim
napadima izuzetno jakog, grčevitog bola u licu.
Bol je lokaliziran na području inervacije jedne od
grana živca trigeminusa, najčešće druge ili treće
grane. Traje od nekoliko sekundi do nekoliko mi-
nuta, a kasnije u jeku boles može postoja kao
konstantni tup ili žareći bol u području ranije pa-
roksizmalne. Bol mogu izazva dodiri ili pokre
liječenja učini neurološku i neuroradiološku
obradu te snimi MR mozga (CISS sekvenca) ko-
jim se može vizualizira neurovaskularni kon-
ikt7-9. White i Sweet10 postavili su 5 preciznih
dijagnosčkih kriterija za NT: 1. bol je paroksiz-
malan; 2. bol može bi izazvan laganim dodirom
lica (engl. trigger zone); 3. bol je ograničen na
inervacijsko područje trigeminusa; 4. bol je unila-
teralan; 5. klinički pregled osjeta je normalan. Ovi
kriteriji uključeni su u današnje službene dijagno-
sčke kriterije Međunarodnog društva za glavo-
bolju (Internaonal Headache Society, IHS) u čijoj
klasikaciji (Internaonal Classicaon of Heada-
che Disorders II, ICHD-II)11 neuralgija trigeminusa
zamjenjuje raniju dijagnozu c douloureux te čini
diskretnu kliničku dijagnozu unutar opće klasi-
kacije ‘kranijalnih neuralgija i centralnih uzroka
bola u licu’.
NT se može liječi konzervavno primjenom lije-
kova, nekirurškim postupcima i kirurški. Od lije-
kova najučinkoviji su anepilepčki lijekovi, kao
što su karbamazepin, baklofen, lamotrigin, gaba-
penn, klonazepam12. Akutne egzacerbacije bola
mogu se liječi perifernim blokovima živca trige-
minusa lokalnim anestekom te uzimanjem neo-
pioidnih ili opioidnih analgeka. Iako je kod veći-
ne bolesnika kontrola bolova lijekovima
uglavnom terapija prvog izbora12 unatoč nuspoja-
vama, kirurško liječenje NT-a vrlo je učinkovito uz
relavno malo komplikacija i nuspojava. Tri su
glavna kirurška pristupa liječenju NT-a: 1. perku-
tani ablavni postupci koji oštećuju ganglij živca
trigeminusa, 2. mikrovaskularna dekompresija
(MVD) živca trigeminusa, 3. radiokirurgija gama-
-nožem.
Perkutana radiofrekventna elektrokoagulacija
ganglija živca trigeminusa13, perkutana kompresi-
ja ganglija balonom14 i perkutana glicerolska rizo-
tomija15 metode su s relavno dobrim uspjehom,
no imaju značajan povratak bola16 uz čestu nus-
pojavu utrnulos lica.
Mikrovaskularna dekompresija trigeminalnog živ-
ca (MVD)17-22 drži se zlatnim standardom, iako je
najinvazivnije liječenje jer zahjeva operacijski
pristup u kojem se živac trigeminus odvaja od pri-
ležeće krve žile; ona je ujedno i jedino uzročno li-
ječenje koje djeluje na hipotetski uzrok NT-a –
prisak krvne žile na živac. Mikrovaskularna
Neprepoznata neuralgija trigeminusa spada među naj-
češće uzroke stomatološke ekstrakcije zdravog zuba.
Uzrok trigeminalnoj neuralgiji je konikt vaskularnih s
nervnim strukturama. Operacijska metoda koja
uspješno liječi ovaj problem je mikrovaskularna de-
kompresija.
lica, govor, žvakanje, gutanje, vjetar, hladnoća,
toplina. NT je kao sindrom poznat čak od kraja
prvog stoljeća1, pod nazivom heterokrania, a u
18. stoljeću francuski liječnik Nicolaus Andre na-
zvao je sindrom c douloureux2. Naziv je do da-
nas uvriježen te se koris kao entet istoznačan
NT-u. Kao sindrom javlja se podjednako u oba
spola3, iako postoje podaci o diskretnoj predomi-
naciji ženskog spola3. NT češće se javlja u starijoj
životnoj dobi s incidencijom od 4 na 100 0004.
Glavnim eološkim uzrokom danas se smatra pri-
sak krvne žile na korijen živca trigeminusa, tj.
mjesto izlaska iz središnjeg živčanog sustava u
području ponsa, tzv. root entry zona5. Zbog stal-
nog priska krvne žile jekom dužeg vremena
dolazi do kroničnih oštećenja i brojnih promjena
aksona kao dio procesa cijeljenja, popravka i re-
generacije6, jekom kojeg nastaju ekscitabilnija i
prepodražljiva živčana vlakna. Fokalna demijelini-
zacija također omogućuje prelazak električnih im-
pulsa i širenje ekscitacije između aksona (efapč-
ko provođenje), čime se i tumači nastanak bola
posebnog karaktera, najčešće opisanog poput
udara struje.
Dijagnosciranje NT-a zasniva se gotovo isključivo
na znanju i iskustvu kliničara u prepoznavanju
znakova i simptoma koji karakteriziraju poreme-
ćaj, međum, preporučljivo je prije operacijskog
335
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D. Chudy, D. Dlaka, F. Almahariq et al.: Mikrovaskularna dekompresija u supinacijskom položaju za liječenje neuralgije trigeminusa
medicina uminensis 2012, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 333-337
dekompresija pruža trenutnu i dugoročnu izuzet-
no dobru kontrolu bolova17-22.
BOLESNICI I METODE
Tijekom 2009., 2010. i 2011. godine u Zavodu za
neurokirurgiju KB Dubrava operirano je 48 bole-
snika s neuralgijom trigeminusa; učinjena im je
mikrovaskularna dekompresija živca trigeminusa.
Od 22 muškarca i 26 žena, kod 26 bolesnika bol je
bio lokaliziran u desnoj strani lica, a kod 22 u lije-
voj strani. Kod 7 bolesnika bol je bio prisutan u
sve 3 grane trigeminusa, kod 16 bolesnika u samo
jednoj grani, a kod 25 bolesnika u dvije grane. Ta-
blica 1 prikazuje distribuciju bolova kod bolesni-
ka. Prosječna dob bolesnika bila je 56 godina
(raspon od 29 godina do 76 godina), a prosječno
trajanje boles 7 godina (raspon od 3 mjeseca do
30 godina). Većina bolesnika do tada je liječena
samo lijekovima, njih 36, 3 bolesnika liječena su
perifernim blokadama živca i egzerezom, kod 6
bolesnika proveden je RFT, kod 2 bolesnika radio-
kirurgija gama-nožem i RFT, a kod jednog bolesni-
ka MVD i RFT.
Operacijska tehnika
Svi bolesnici operirani su u supinacijskom polo-
žaju, glava im je ksirana Mayeldovim drža-
čem, s rotacijom glave u kontralateralnom smje-
ru od bolne strane i blagom eksijom glave.
Slika 1 prikazuje pičan namještaj bolesnika. Po-
trebno je idencira mastoidnu eminenciju te
inio-meatalnu liniju i palpacijom odredi položaj
transverzalnog sinusa. Nakon blago zakrivljenog
postaurikularnog reza učini se mala (2 x 3 cm)
subokcipitalna lateralna kranijektomija, te se
idenciraju transverzalni i sigmoidni sinus i nji-
hov spoj. Učini se uzdužni rez dure oko 2 mm od
sinusa te se prikaže hemisfera malog mozga.
Vrlo je bitno da se postupnom preparacijom la-
teralno uz cerebelarnu hemisferu i lateralni rub
stražnje lubanjske jame postupno i strpljivo na-
preduje uz otpuštanje cerebrospinalne tekući-
ne, kako bi se dobio maksimalni prostor uz
minimalnu ili nikakvu retrakciju hemisfere cere-
beluma. Također se može primijeni 250 ml 20
% manitola kroz 15 minuta, kako bi se osigurao
maksimalni prostor uz minimalno oštećenje ma-
log mozga. Nakon idenkacije ličnog živca koji
je površnije i trigeminalnog živca koji se nalazi
dublje i malo kranijalnije, potrebno je pažljivo
pregleda cijeli živac od njegovog izlaska iz pon-
sa do izlaska iz pontocerebelarnog kuta. Potreb-
na je oštra disekcija arahnoidalnih priraslica i
blaga mobilizacija živca i bilo koje priležeće krv-
ne žile (najčešće SCA) te odvajanje žile od živca
teonskom spužvicom i ksacija brinskim ljepi-
lom (Tissel). U slučaju nepostojanja konikta
učini se blaga mobilizacija neurovaskularnih
struktura uz disekciju priraslica te vrlo nježna
površna koagulacija živca. Tijekom zatvaranja
bitno je vodonepropusno zatvori duru i masto-
idne celule koje su najčešće eksponirane popu-
ni voskom.
REZULTATI
Kod 43 bolesnika (89,6 %) nađen je intraoperacij-
ski jasan neurovaskularni konikt, kod 3 bolesni-
ka (6,25 %) intraoperacijski nije nađen neurova-
skularni konikt, a kod 2 bolesnika (4,17 %) je
nađen konikt s manjom krvnom žilom distalnije
od root entry zone. Početni uspjeh operacijskog
liječenja (potpuno bez bolova ili prisutni blaži bo-
lovi) zabilježen je kod 42 bolesnika (87,5 %), kod
5 bolesnika (10,4 %) bolovi su se smanjili uz još
prisutne blaže bolove u licu, kod jednog bolesni-
ka (2.1 %) nije došlo do smanjenja bolova.
Tablica 1. Raspodjela bolesnika s obzirom na bolovima zahvaćene grane trigeminusa
Table 1 Distribuon of paents based on pain distribuon in trigeminal branches
Grana trigeminusa Broj bolesnika Postotak
V 1 – V 2 9 18,7
V 2 7 14,6
V 2 – V 3 16 33,3
V 3 9 18,7
V 1 – V 2 – V 3 7 14,6
UKUPNO 48 100
336 hp://hrcak.srce.hr/medicina
D. Chudy, D. Dlaka, F. Almahariq et al.: Mikrovaskularna dekompresija u supinacijskom položaju za liječenje neuralgije trigeminusa
medicina uminensis 2012, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 333-337
Slika 1. Smještaj bolesnika za mikrovaskularnu dekompresiju desnog
trigeminusa (snimljen u operacijskoj dvorani prije operacije)
Figure 1 Paent posion for the MVD of the right trigeminal nerve
(picture taken in the operang room before the procedure)
Slika 2. A) pičan neurovaskularni konikt trigeminusa s gornjom cerebelarnom arterijom (SCA);
B) arterija odvojena od živca teonskom spužvicom (snimljeno operacijskim mikroskopom jekom operacije)
Figure 2 A) typical neurovascular conict of trigeminal nerve and superior cerebellar artery (SCA);
B) artery separated from the nerve by teon spunge (pictures taken by operang microscope during operaon)
Slika 3. A) neurovaskularni konikt s venom i manjom arterijom; B) vena i arterija odvojene od živca teonskom spužvicom;
C) ksacija brinskim ljepilom (snimljeno operacijskim mikroskopom jekom operacije)
Figure 3 A) neurovascular conict with a vein and minor artery; B) vein and artery separated from the nerve by teon spunge;
C) xaon by brin glue (pictures taken by operang microscope during operaon)teonskom spužvicom (snimljeno operacijskim
mikroskopom jekom operacije)
RASPRAVA I ZAKLJUČAK
Kirurški pristup trigeminalnom živcu te njegovu di-
sekciju i oslobađanje od kompresije prvi je opisao
Walter Dandy23, dok je Janea postavio temelje
moderne teorije o neurovaskularnom koniktu24.
Danas se mikrovaskularna dekompresija trigeminu-
sa smatra zlatnim standardom i metodom izbora li-
ječenja kod bolesnika s neuralgijom trigeminusa i
dokazanim neurovaskularnim koiktom, jer pred-
stavlja jedino uzročno liječenje. Danas samom ope-
racijskom liječenju obično prethodi neroradiološka
obrada, posebno snimanje MR-om takozvane CISS
sekvencije u kojoj se može vizualizira neurovasku-
larni konikt. Inatraoperacijski nalazi još više podu-
piru hipotezu o neurovaskularnom koniktu kao
uzroku neuralgije, najčešće je krvna žila koja kom-
primira živac gornja cerebelarna arterija koju autori
A B
A B C
337
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D. Chudy, D. Dlaka, F. Almahariq et al.: Mikrovaskularna dekompresija u supinacijskom položaju za liječenje neuralgije trigeminusa
medicina uminensis 2012, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 333-337
spominju kao uzrok kompresije u oko 75 % eksplo-
racija17-19,24,25, a vena se spominje kao uzrok kom-
presije u 5 do 13 % eksploracija, dok uzrok mogu
bi i razni tumori18,19. Negavne eksploracije u koji-
ma se ne nađe kompresija trigeminusa u literaturi
variraju od 1 do 18 %17,18. Dok je smještaj bolesnika
jekom ove operacije izuzetno bitan, jer mora osi-
gura adekvatan i opmalan prostor za izvođenje
operacije te dovoljnu rotaciju glave kako bi lateralni
rub baze stražnje lubanjske jame bio izložen, isku-
stvom se pokazalo da se opmalan položaj može
posći supinacijskim položajem bolesnika nasuprot
pronacijskom položaju. Slika 2a prikazuje pičan
neurovaskularni konikt kod kojeg gornja cerebe-
larna arterija komprimira živac, nakon manje mobi-
lizacije žila se odvoji od živca teonskom spužvicom
(2b). Slika 3a prikazuje konikt vene i manje arteri-
je sa živcem koji se nakon odvajanja (3b) ksiraju
brinskim ljepilom (3c) kako bi se zadržao opma-
lan položaj. MVD je metoda koja pruža izuzetno
dobar terapijski uspjeh te je taj uspjeh m bolji što
je jasniji neurovaskularni konikt. Primijećeno je da
bolesnici s arterijskom kompresijom živca reagiraju
bolje na operacijsko liječenje te nemaju bolove
kada se ukloni kompresivni učinak19. Od bolesnika
predstavljenih ovdje jedini bolesnik koji nije imao
nikakav uspjeh operacije nije imao intraoperacijski
nađen neurovaskularni konikt, te je ranije liječen
drugim metodama s malim ili nikakvim uspjehom.
MVD predstavlja jedino uzročno liječenje neuralgi-
je trigeminusa, te je zlatni standard kao metoda li-
ječenja i vrlo se uspješno može proves u supina-
cijskom položaju bolesnika.
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ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Article
: A series of 152 posterior fossa explorations for tic douloureux and hemifacial spasm has been reviewed with assessment of outcome at the last follow-up examination. Among 103 cases of tic followed for an average of 48.3 months. 79 patients (77%) obtained good or excellent symptomatic relief, and there were 24 failures or recurrences (23%). Of 48 cases of hemifacial spasm followed for an average of 42.1 months, there were good or excellent results in 42 cases (87.5%); only 6 patients (12.5%) experienced failure or recurrence. Patients noted to have arterial contact at the 5th nerve entry zone responded significantly better to microvascular decompression than did patients with no arterial contact. Further, patients noted to have anatomical distortion of the 5th nerve by an artery or wedging of an artery into the crevice between the nerve and the pons had significantly better outcomes after microvascular decompression than did patients with other kinds of arterial contact. Partial sensory rhizotomy proved to be a highly effective alternative to microvascular decompression in cases of doubtful neurovascular compression. It was not possible to define similar neuroanatomical criteria predictive of response to microvascular decompression in patients with hemifacial spasm. (Neurosurgery 14:462-471, 1984) Copyright (C) by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Book
Trigeminal neuralgia is a sudden, severe, brief, recurrent, stabbing pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. It is a rare condition whose etiology remains unknown. Diagnosis is by careful history and there are few investigations that are of value in the management of this condition. Management is initially medical with anticonvulsant drugs being the primary drugs. If the drugs are no longer effective or tolerated then surgical management needs to be considered. Surgery can be at a variety of different levels along the pathway of the trigeminal nerve. Each procedure has its advantages and disadvantage. It is crucial that throughout treatment the patient has been given fully informed choice.
Article
Forty patients were followed for an average period of 8 1/2 years after 44 consecutive suboccipital craniotomies for trigeminal neuralgia. Among these patients, 36 had microvascular decompression (MVD) of the nerve, four had repeat trigeminal rhizotomy after MVD was not successful in controlling their pain, and four had primary trigeminal rhizotomies. Of the 36 patients undergoing MVD, 17 (47%) experienced recurrent postoperative neuralgic pain: in 11 (31%) pain recurrence was major, and in six (17%) it was minor. Among the eight patients undergoing rhizotomy, four (50%) had major pain recurrences and one (13%) had a minor recurrence, for a 63% total recurrence rate. There was a strong statistical relationship between an operative finding of arterial cross-compression of the nerve and long-term complete pain relief. Patients with other compressive pathology (related to veins or bone structures) did not on the average fare as well. Despite this, there appeared to be no point in time in the postoperative interval when the patient could be considered "cured." Major recurrences averaged 3.5% annually, and minor recurrences averaged 1.5% annually. The implications of these findings for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and the current understanding of the mechanism of MVD for this disorder are discussed.
Article
Outcome after 252 posterior fossa explorations for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia was determined by a retrospective review. Patients with distortion of the fifth nerve root caused by extrinsic vascular compression underwent microvascular decompression, those with no compression underwent partial sensory rhizotomy, and those with vascular contact but no distortion of the nerve root underwent decompression and rhizotomy. The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years. An excellent (75%) or good (8%) clinical outcome was achieved in 208 patients; 13 patients (5%) experienced little or no pain relief. Thirty-one patients (12%) suffered recurrent trigeminal neuralgia an average of 1.9 pain-free years after operation; recurrence continued at a rate of approximately 2% per year thereafter. Reoperation for recurrent or persistent pain provided excellent or good results in 85% of reoperated patients, but partial sensory rhizotomy was required in most of these patients. Outcome was affected by previous surgical procedures. A previous percutaneous radiofrequency lesion was associated with a significantly greater incidence of fifth nerve complications and a worse outcome after posterior fossa exploration. Because of this finding, the authors recommend that percutaneous radiofrequency rhizolysis be reserved for patients who have failed posterior fossa exploration or who are not candidates for surgery. Patients with compressive nerve root distortion and a short duration of symptoms before surgery had a significantly better outcome than patients with a longer duration of symptoms. In contrast, there was no relationship between the duration of symptoms and outcome of patients without nerve root distortion. Vascular decompression may cause dysfunction of the trigeminal system in tic douloureux, but in patients who remain untreated for long periods an intrinsic abnormality develops that may perpetuate pain even after microvascular decompression. Posterior fossa exploration is recommended as the procedure of choice for patients with trigeminal neuralgia who are surgical candidates.
Article
A series of 72 patients with typical trigeminal neuralgia who underwent microsurgical exploration of the trigeminal nerve in the posterior fossa is analyzed. The operations were performed between 1977 and 1980 with an average follow-up period of 4.94 years. Seventy-eight percent of the patients have remained free of pain after the operation. Of the 16 patients (22%) that were either not relieved of their pain or had a recurrence, two are well-controlled with medical treatment and the rest have required a variety of surgical procedures (mostly radiofrequency rhizotomy) for pain relief. Recurrences were significantly more common in females. There was no relationship between recurrence rate and the age of the patient or the duration of the symptoms before surgery. Definite compression of the trigeminal nerve at the root entry zone by an arterial loop singly or in combination with other arteries or a vein was found in 82% of the patients. The recurrence rate in this group was 19%. Definite compression by a vein was found in seven patients and the pain recurred in four (47%), a significant difference. There was no death or disabling stroke in this series, but persistent unilateral hearing loss occurred in a total of 14 patients (19%), with complete deafness in the ipsilateral ear in five patients (7%). In addition, two patients suffered mild but persistent ataxia of gait and two patients intermittent diplopia. These results are compared with the results of other reported series.
Article
A series of 152 posterior fossa explorations for tic douloureux and hemifacial spasm has been reviewed with assessment of outcome at the last follow-up examination. Among 103 cases of tic followed for an average of 48.3 months, 79 patients (77%) obtained good or excellent symptomatic relief, and there were 24 failures or recurrences (23%). Of 48 cases of hemifacial spasm followed for an average of 42.1 months, there were good or excellent results in 42 cases (87.5%); only 6 patients (12.5%) experienced failure or recurrence. Patients noted to have arterial contact at the 5th nerve entry zone responded significantly better to microvascular decompression than did patients with no arterial contact. Further, patients noted to have anatomical distortion of the 5th nerve by an artery or wedging of an artery into the crevice between the nerve and the pons had significantly better outcomes after microvascular decompression than did patients with other kinds of arterial contact. Partial sensory rhizotomy proved to be a highly effective alternative to microvascular decompression in cases of doubtful neurovascular compression. It was not possible to define similar neuroanatomical criteria predictive of response to microvascular decompression in patients with hemifacial spasm.
Article
The vascular relationships of the trigeminal nerve root entry zone were examined bilaterally in 20 cadavers of individuals known to be free of facial pain. Fourteen of 40 nerves made contact with an artery, but only four of these showed evidence of compression or distortion of the nerve. In addition, the vascular relationships of 40 trigeminal nerves exposed surgically for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia were studied, and 31 nerves showed compression by adjacent arteries. Venous compression was seen in four of the cadaver nerves and in eight nerves from patients with trigeminal neuralgia. These data support the hypothesis that arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve is associated with trigeminal neuralgia.