Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Authors

  • AHSAN NUMAN Department of Neurosurgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/ S ervices Hospital, Lahore
  • MANZOOR AHMAD Department of Neurosurgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/ S ervices Hospital, Lahore
  • M. ASHRAF SHAHEEN Department of Neurosurgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/ S ervices Hospital, Lahore
  • M. Anwar Ch Department of Neurosurgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/ S ervices Hospital, Lahore
  • Rizwan Butt Department of Neurosurgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS)/ S ervices Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Background: The majority of patients with trigeminal neuralgia can be managed by medical treatment. Those patients who are not relieved with medicines can be offered some surgical treatment. Microvascular decompress-ion (MVD) of the trigeminal nerve in the root entry zone is the most suitable surgical procedure.
Methods: This study included 80 patients who underwent MVD for trigeminal neuralgia from January 2002 to December 2005.
Results: Out of the total 80 patients, 48 (60%) were males and 32 (40%) were females with male: female ratio of 3:2. The maximum number of patients was in the 6th decade of life (30%) followed by 7th and 5th decades (over 18%). Peroperatively, an arterial loop was found compressing the 5th nerve in the root entry zone in 60 (75%) patients, only veins in 10 (12.5%) and an artery and a vein (combined) in 6 (7.5%) patients.
Conclusion: An arterial loop compressing the trigeminal nerve at root entry zone is the commonest finding at microvascular decompression (75%), followed by veins (12.5%).
Keywords: Trigeminal neuralgia, Microvascular decompression, Root entry zone

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Published

2018-11-04

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2011): July-December

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Original Articles

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The work published by PJNS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Copyrights on any open access article published by Pakistan Journal of Neurological Surgery are retained by the author(s).