Surgical treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia through small incision behind the ear

Abstract

A total of 3000 cases with primary trigeminal neuralgia were treated in our department from October 2005 to November 2013 by microvascular decompression or partial amputation of the sensory branch of trigeminal nerve. The clinical cure rate reached 98.66% (2863 cases), and the effective rate was 0.55% (16 cases), ineffective rate 0.45% (13 cases). The recurrence rate was about 0.35% (10 cases). The main postoperative complication was intracranial hypotension syndrome (40.50% , 1215 cases), which disappeared 2 or 3 d later. The other serious complications included encephaledema (1.40%, 42 cases), cerebral hemorrhage (0.20%, 6 cases) and ischemic stroke (0.07%, 2 cases). In conclusion, microvascular decompression is an effective and safe operation method in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia, and most patients' pain can be eliminated or alleviated after surgery.

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2014.12.016