Abstract
Background. We aimed to present the immediate and long term effect of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN). Methods. ITN patients who underwent PBC for the first time in the past seven years were enrolled. Base line data and immediate postoperative outcomes were collected by reviewing the medical records and long term results. Kaplan-Meier curve, life-table analysis proportional-hazards analysis were utilized to assess the long term results and the likelihood of tic recurrence. Results. 12,797 patients were enrolled. Immediate after the PBC procedure, complete and partial pain relief were achieved in 95.6% and 1.1% patients respectively, with no relief in 1.7 % patients; the common side effects on the affected side of face included the sense loss in 98.9% patients, with 3.8% of them experienced sense loss combined abnormal sense; masseter weakness in 90.6%, herpes eruption in 51.4%, corneal reflex weakness or loss in 12.7% patients. The fewer perioperative complications covered diplopia in 139 patients (1.1%), partial hearing loss in 190 patients (1.5%), vascular complications in 5 patients (0.05%), brainstem hematoma in one patient (0.01%), ischemic stroke in two patients (0.02%), intracranial hemorrhage in 11 patents (0.09%), and intracranial infection in one patient (0.01%) patients. Of three deaths happened in the perioperative period, two died of intracranial hemorrhage, and the other one died of intracranial infection. 5794 (49.2%) patients, who were followed than one year after the procedure, were included in the follow-up study, with the median follow-up period of 7.2 years. Complete and partial pain relief were obtained in 82.9% and 6.8% patients respectively, while the pain recurrence occurred in 8.5% patients. Side effects included sense loss without abnormal sense in 54.3%, with acceptable abnormal sense in 6.0%, and with severe abnormal sense in 2.0% patients. Masseter weakness was reported by 7.5% patients. 96.4% patients were satisfied with the procedure. Conclusion. Our study shows PBC is a safe, simple and effective procedure, with both immediate and long-term success rates, acceptable side effects and fewer deadly complications, should be considered as one of the best choice for the treatment of ITN patients.