Patient Satisfaction and Minimally Clinically Important Difference in Pain Relief Vary by Procedure Type: A Comparison of Microvascular Decompression and Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract INTRODUCTION Trigeminal neuralgia has always been a disease of conflict from pathological and management perspectives. Despite advances in the radiological imaging, evidence from autopsy studies, and intraoperative findings, concrete answers are not in sight. GKRS has been a strong contender among available treatment options for the management of trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS All patients were evaluated on clinical criteria, BNI scale for intensity of pain, and facial hypoesthesia (if any) in a protocol-based manner. Only patients with BNI III to V were offered GKRS as a treatment modality. The Marseille point was targeted with a 70 to 90 Gy dose at 50% isodose. Patients were informed about all available treatment options with long-term prognosis and pain control rates. Patients in need of an immediate pain relief, in failed GKRS, and in a severe pain jeopardizing routine life and eating habits were not offered GKRS and were managed with microvascular decompression. RESULTS A total of 108 (65 males, 43 females) patients received GKRS with the Perfexion model since 2009. Eighty-two percent of the patients received GKRS for primary trigeminal neuralgia, while the rest received GKRS for secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to skull base lesions (meningioma, schwannoma, cerebellar AVM, etc). A total of 78% of the patients had preoperative BNI scale IV, while 19% and 3% of the patients had grade III and V scale pain, respectively. Ninety-four percent patients gained BNI scale III intensity pain within 3 mo of GKRS. The 3-yr pain control rate (BNI I-II) could be attained in 81% of the patients. Twelve percent of the patients remained in BNI grade III. Two patients needed redo GKRS for their pain recurrence. CONCLUSION It remains uncontested that MVD provides the best long-term pain-free control in patients of trigeminal neuralgia; however, GKRS remains a valuable feasible option for a selected group of patients. GKRS should be offered as an alternative treatment modality in patients not in urgent need of pain relief. In failed GKRS, authors did not encounter any difficulty in microvascular decompression.

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Efficacy of primary microvascular decompression versus subsequent microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2016.5.jns151692 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 126 (5) ◽

pp. 1691-1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Debebe Theodros ◽

C. Rory Goodwin ◽

Matthew T. Bender ◽

Xin Zhou ◽

Tomas Garzon-Muvdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Trigeminal Nerve ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

Pain Control ◽

Surgical Intervention ◽

Patient Records ◽

Duration Of Symptoms ◽

Facial Numbness ◽

Lancinating Pain

OBJECTIVETrigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by intermittent, paroxysmal, and lancinating pain along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Microvascular decompression (MVD) directly addresses compression of the trigeminal nerve. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients undergoing MVD as their first surgical intervention experience greater pain control than patients who undergo subsequent MVD.METHODSA retrospective review of patient records from 1998 to 2015 identified a total of 942 patients with TN and 500 patients who underwent MVD. After excluding several cases, 306 patients underwent MVD as their first surgical intervention and 175 patients underwent subsequent MVD. Demographics and clinicopathological data and outcomes were obtained for analysis.RESULTSIn patients who underwent subsequent MVD, surgical intervention was performed at an older age (55.22 vs 49.98 years old, p < 0.0001) and the duration of symptoms was greater (7.22 vs 4.45 years, p < 0.0001) than for patients in whom MVD was their first surgical intervention. Patients who underwent initial MVD had improved pain relief and no improvement in pain rates compared with those who had subsequent MVD (95.8% and 4.2% vs 90.3% and 9.7%, respectively, p = 0.0041). Patients who underwent initial MVD had significantly lower rates of facial numbness in the pre- and postoperative periods compared with patients who underwent subsequent MVD (p < 0.0001). The number of complications in both groups was similar (p = 0.4572).CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that patients who underwent other procedures prior to MVD had less pain relief and a higher incidence of facial numbness despite rates of complications similar to patients who underwent MVD as their first surgical intervention.

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Aseptic meningitis caused by Teflon implantation for microvascular decompression

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1999.90.1.0145 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 90 (1) ◽

pp. 145-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Miroslav P. Bobek ◽

Oren Sagher

Keyword(s):

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Aseptic Meningitis ◽

Trigeminal Nerve ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

Surgical Removal ◽

Content Type ◽

Initial Surgery ◽

Fine Print

✓ The authors present the case of a 47-year-old man who, after undergoing microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia, experienced symptomatic pain relief but developed prolonged aseptic meningitis. This case is unusual in that the patient remained dependent on steroid medications for nearly 5 months following the initial surgery and the aseptic meningitis did not resolve until after surgical removal of the Teflon used to pad the trigeminal nerve. The pathophysiological characteristics of the body's reaction to implanted Teflon are discussed along with the rationale for removing this substance in cases of prolonged intractable aseptic meningitis.

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Recurrent or refractory trigeminal neuralgia after microvascular decompression, radiofrequency ablation, or radiosurgery

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2005.18.5.13 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Rene O. Sanchez-Mejia ◽

Mary Limbo ◽

Jason S. Cheng ◽

Joaquin Camara ◽

Mariann M. Ward ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiofrequency Ablation ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

Initial Treatment ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Good Pain Relief ◽

Facial Numbness ◽

Neurosurgical Treatment ◽

Lancinating Pain

Object Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by paroxysmal lancinating pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution. When TN is refractory to medical management, patients are referred for microvascular decompression (MVD), radiofrequency ablation, or radiosurgery. After the initial treatment, patients may have refractory or recurrent symptoms requiring retreatment. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors are associated with the need for retreatment and which modality is most effective. Methods To define this population further, the authors evaluated a cohort of patients who required retreatment for TN. The mean follow-up periods were 51 months from the first treatment and 23 months from the last one, and these were comparable among treatment groups. Conclusions Trigeminal neuralgia can recur after neurosurgical treatment. In this study the authors demonstrate that the number of patients requiring retreatment is not negligible. Lower retreatment rates were seen in patients who initially underwent radiosurgery, compared with those in whom MVD or radiofrequency ablation were performed. Radiosurgery was more likely to be the final treatment for recurrent TN regardless of the initial treatment. After retreatment, the majority of patients attained complete or very good pain relief. Pain relief after retreatment correlates with postoperative facial numbness.

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Assessment of pain control, quality of life, and predictors of success after gamma knife surgery for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2005.18.5.9 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Ajay Jawahar ◽

Rishi Wadhwa ◽

Caglar Berk ◽

Gloria Caldito ◽

Allyson Delaune ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Gamma Knife ◽

Pain Control ◽

Gamma Knife Surgery ◽

Patient Satisfaction Score

Object There are various surgical treatment alternatives for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), but there is no single scale that can be used uniformly to assess and compare one type of intervention with the others. In this study the objectives were to determine factors associated with pain control, pain-free survival, residual pain, and recurrence after gamma knife surgery (GKS) treatment for TN, and to correlate the patients' self-reported quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction with the aforementioned factors. Methods Between the years 2000 and 2004, the authors treated 81 patients with medically refractory TN by using GKS. Fifty-two patients responded to a questionnaire regarding pain control, activities of daily living, QOL, and patient satisfaction. The median follow-up duration was 16.5 months. Twenty-two patients (42.3%) had complete pain relief, 14 (26.9%) had partial but satisfactory pain relief, and in 16 patients (30.8%) the treatment failed. Seven patients (13.5%) reported a recurrence during the follow-up period, and 25 (48.1%) reported a significant (> 50%) decrease in their pain within the 1st month posttreatment. The mean decrease in the total dose of pain medication was 75%. Patients' self-reported QOL scores improved 90% and the overall patient satisfaction score was 80%. Conclusions The authors found that GKS is a minimally invasive and effective procedure that yields a favorable outcome for patients with recurrent or refractory TN. It may also be offered as a first-line surgical modality for any patients with TN who are unsuited or unwilling to undergo microvascular decompression.

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Predictors of outcome in surgically managed patients with typical and atypical trigeminal neuralgia: comparison of results following microvascular decompression

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.2002.96.3.0527 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 527-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 153

Author(s):

Elizabeth C. Tyler-Kabara ◽

Amin B. Kassam ◽

Michael H. Horowitz ◽

Louise Urgo ◽

Constantinos Hadjipanayis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postoperative Pain ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

Long Term Results ◽

Content Type ◽

Significant Pain ◽

Fine Print

Object. Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become one of the primary treatments for typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Not all patients with facial pain, however, suffer from the typical form of this disease; many patients who present for surgical intervention actually have atypical TN. The authors compare the results of MVD performed for typical and atypical TN at their institution. Methods. The results of 2675 MVDs in 2264 patients were reviewed using information obtained from the department database. The authors examined immediate postoperative relief in 2003 patients with typical and 672 with atypical TN, and long-term follow-up results in patients for whom more than 5 years of follow-up data were available (969 with typical and 219 with atypical TN). Outcomes were divided into three categories: excellent, pain relief without medication; good, mild or intermittent pain controlled with low-dose medication; and poor, no or poor pain relief with large amounts of medication. The results for typical and atypical TN were compared and patient history and pain characteristics were evaluated for possible predictive factors. Conclusions. In this study, MVD for typical TN resulted in complete postoperative pain relief in 80% of patients, compared with 47% with complete relief in those with atypical TN. Significant pain relief was achieved after 97% of MVDs in patients with typical TN and after 87% of these procedures for atypical TN. When patients were followed for more than 5 years, the long-term pain relief after MVD for those with typical TN was excellent in 73% and good in an additional 7%, for an overall significant pain relief in 80% of patients. In contrast, following MVD for atypical TN, the long-term results were excellent in only 35% of cases and good in an additional 16%, for overall significant pain relief in only 51%. Memorable onset and trigger points were predictive of better postoperative pain relief in both atypical and typical TN. Preoperative sensory loss was a negative predictor for good long-term results following MVD for atypical TN.

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Microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia: predictors of pain relief, complication avoidance, and lessons learned

Acta Neurochirurgica ◽

10.1007/s00701-021-05028-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Johannes Herta ◽

Tobias Schmied ◽

Theresa Bettina Loidl ◽

Wei-te Wang ◽

Wolfgang Marik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

The Elderly ◽

Pain Intensity Score ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Safe Procedure ◽

Neurovascular Conflict ◽

Paroxysmal Pain

Abstract Objective To analyze characteristics associated with long-term pain relief after microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Description of associated morbidity and complication avoidance. Methods One 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. Results Type 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. Conclusions MVD 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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Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Comparison of Dose Protocols

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci9060134 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 134 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Warren Boling ◽

Minwoo Song ◽

Wendy Shih ◽

Bengt Karlsson

Keyword(s):

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽

Sensory Disturbance ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Facial Numbness ◽

Satisfaction With Treatment ◽

Treatment Plans ◽

Prescription Dose

Purpose: A variety of treatment plans including an array of prescription doses have been used in radiosurgery treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, despite a considerable experience in the radiosurgical treatment of TN, an ideal prescription dose that balances facial dysesthesia risk with pain relief durability has not been determined. Methods and Materials: This retrospective study of patients treated with radiosurgery for typical TN evaluates two treatment doses in relation to outcomes of pain freedom, bothersome facial numbness, and patient satisfaction with treatment. All patients were treated with radiosurgery for intractable and disabling TN. A treatment dose protocol change from 80 to 85 Gy provided an opportunity to compare two prescription doses. The variables evaluated were pain relief, treatment side-effect profile, and patient satisfaction. Results: Typical TN was treated with 80 Gy in 26 patients, and 85 Gy in 37 patients. A new face sensory disturbance was reported after 80 Gy in 16% and after 85 Gy in 27% (p = 0.4). Thirteen failed an 80 Gy dose whereas seven failed an 85 Gy dose. Kaplan–Meier analysis found that at 29 months 50% failed an 80 Gy treatment compared with 79% who had durable pain relief after 85 Gy treatment (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The 85 Gy dose for TN provided a more durable pain relief compared to the 80 Gy one without a significantly elevated occurrence of facial sensory disturbance.

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Patient Reports of Satisfaction after Microvascular Decompression and Partial Sensory Rhizotomy for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000159883.35957.e0 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 56 (6) ◽

pp. 1304-1312 ◽

Cited By ~ 109

Author(s):

Joanna M. Zakrzewska ◽

Benjamin C. Lopez ◽

Sung Eun Kim ◽

Hugh B. Coakham

Keyword(s):

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Side Effects ◽

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Posterior Fossa ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

Primary Group ◽

Posterior Fossa Surgery ◽

Ablative Surgery ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Primary Procedure

Abstract OBJECTIVE: There are no reports of patient satisfaction surveys after either a microvascular decompression (MVD) or a partial sensory rhizotomy (PSR) for trigeminal neuralgia. This study compares patient satisfaction after these two types of posterior fossa surgery for trigeminal neuralgia, because it is postulated that recurrences, complications, and previous surgical experience reduce satisfaction. METHODS: All patients who had undergone their first posterior fossa surgery at one center were sent a self-complete questionnaire by an independent physician. Among the 44 questions on four standardized questionnaires were 5 questions that related to patient satisfaction and experience of obtaining care. Patients were divided into those having their first surgical procedure (primary) and those who had had previous ablative surgery (nonprimary). RESULTS: Response rates were 90% (220 of 245) of MVD and 88% (53 of 60) of PSR patients. Groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, duration of symptoms, mean duration of follow-up, and recurrence rates. Overall satisfaction with their current situation was 89% in MVD and 72% in PSR patients. Unsatisfied with the outcome were 4% of MVD and 20% of PSR patients, and this is a significant difference (P < 0.01). Satisfaction with outcome was higher in those undergoing this as a primary procedure. In the primary group, satisfaction was dependent on recurrence and complication/side effects status (each P < 0.01), but this was not the case in the nonprimary group. Patients expressed a desire for earlier posterior fossa surgery in 73% of MVD and 58% of PSR patients, and this was highest in the primary group. The final outcome was considered to be better than expected in 80% of MVD and 54% of PSR patients, but 22% of the PSR group (P < 0.01) thought they were worse off. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing posterior fossa surgery as a primary procedure are most satisfied and PSR patients are least satisfied, partly because of a higher rate of side effects.

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