Immediate Pain Relief in Patients of Trigeminal Neuralgia After Microvascular Decompression (MVD)

Abstract

Objectives:  The study was conducted to observe the pattern of pain relief and analyze the influence of demographic factors and co-morbidities in patients undergoing microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

Materials and Methods:  This prospective observational study conducted from July 2020 to July 2023 included 50 diagnosed cases of trigeminal neuralgia scheduled for MVD. Data homogenization, including detailed demographics at our institution, preoperative data including American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) status, and Charlson comorbidity index, rigorously documented surgical parameters, The study design was structured follow-ups at 1, 6, and 12 months.

Results:  Early postoperative outcome revealed 60% complete pain relief, 30% partial relief, and 10% no relief. Age was a significant correlate of outcomes, reinforcing the need for age-sensitive interventions. Nuances of the surgery, especially revision MVD, were associated with increased recurrence rates, emphasizing the need for precision. This study identifies preoperative variables that may affect long-term relief, well known factors in the literature (including multiple sclerosis) correlate with lower rates of relief and diagnostic tissue confirmation, which underscores the need for individualized metrics and longer-term follow-up in studies.

Conclusions:  The data presented offers important information for furthering the knowledge of the clinical outcomes when undergoing MVD, highlighting the need for accurate objective measures in surgical assessments. The correlations identified provide routes to improving protocols and inform the precision of pain relief in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.