Microvascular Decompression for Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia, Hemifacial Spasm, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Three Surgical Approach Variations: Technical Note

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1436-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Hitotsumatsu ◽  
Toshio Matsushima ◽  
Tooru Inoue

Abstract OBJECTIVE We have used three different approaches, namely, the infratentorial lateral supracerebellar approach, the lateral suboccipital infrafloccular approach, and the transcondylar fossa approach, for microvascular decompression for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, respectively. Each approach is a variation of the lateral suboccipital approach to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA); however, each has a different site of bony opening, a different surgical direction, and a different route along the cerebellar surface. METHODS The infratentorial lateral supracerebellar approach is used to access the trigeminal nerve in the superior portion of the CPA through the lateral aspect of the cerebellar tentorial surface. The lateral suboccipital infrafloccular approach is directed through the inferior part of the cerebellar petrosal surface to reach the root exit zone of the facial nerve below the flocculus. The transcondylar fossa approach is used to access the glossopharyngeal nerve in the inferior portion of the CPA through the cerebellar suboccipital surface, after extradural removal of the jugular tubercle as necessary. RESULTS In all three approaches, the cerebellar petrosal surface is never retracted transversely, that is, the cerebellar retraction is never directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the VIIIth cranial nerve, dramatically reducing the risk of postoperative hearing loss. CONCLUSION The greatest advantage of the differential selection of the surgical approach is increased ability to reach the destination in the CPA accurately, with minimal risk of postoperative cranial nerve palsy.

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. McLaughlin ◽  
Peter J. Jannetta ◽  
Brent L. Clyde ◽  
Brian R. Subach ◽  
Christopher H. Comey ◽  
...  

Object. Microvascular decompression has become an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and other cranial nerve rhizopathies. The senior author (P.J.J.) began performing this procedure in 1969 and has performed more than 4400 operations. The purpose of this article is to review some of the nuances of the technical aspects of this procedure.Methods. A review of 4415 operations shows that numerous modifications to the technique of microvascular decompression have occurred during the last 29 years. Of the 2420 operations performed for trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia before 1990, cerebellar injury occurred in 21 cases (0.87%), hearing loss in 48 (1.98%), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in 59 cases (2.44%). Of the 1995 operations performed since 1990, cerebellar injuries declined to nine cases (0.45%), hearing loss to 16 (0.8%), and CSF leakage to 37 (1.85% p < 0.01, test for equality of distributions). The authors describe slight variations made to maximize surgical exposure and minimize potential complications in each of the six principal steps of this operation. These modifications have led to decreasing complication rates in recent years.Conclusions. Using the techniques described in this report, microvascular decompression is an extremely safe and effective treatment for many cranial nerve rhizopathies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. E1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. McLaughlin ◽  
Peter J. Jannetta ◽  
Brent L. Clyde ◽  
Brian R. Subach ◽  
Christopher H. Comey ◽  
...  

Object Microvascular decompression has become an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and other cranial nerve rhizopathies. The senior author (P.J.J.) began performing this procedure in 1969 and has performed more than 4400 operations. The purpose of this article is to review some of the nuances of the technical aspects of this procedure. Methods A review of 4415 operations shows that numerous modifications to the technique of microvascular decompression have occurred during the last 29 years. Of the 2420 operations performed for trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia before 1990, cerebellar injury occurred in 21 cases (0.87%), hearing loss in 48 (1.98%), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in 59 cases (2.44%). Of the 1995 operations performed since 1990, cerebellar injuries declined to nine cases (0.45%), hearing loss to 16 (0.8%), and CSF leakage to 37 (1.85%) (p < 0.01, test for equality of distributions). The authors describe slight variations made to maximize surgical exposure and minimize potential complications in each of the six principal steps of this operation. These modifications have led to decreasing complication rates in recent years. Conclusions Using the techniques described in this report, microvascular decompression is an extremely safe and effective treatment for many cranial nerve rhizopathies.


1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. T. Adams

✓ The concept of microvascular compression (MVC) is discussed critically. The root entry or exit zone is defined: it is much shorter than generally realized. The anatomy of the intracranial vessels is considered, as well as known facts concerning trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia relating to MVC. The results of microvascular decompression (MVD) are analyzed; one-third of patients do not obtain an optimum result. The evidence used to support the hypothesis of MVC, including neurophysiology, is discussed and it is believed to be insufficient and unconvincing. The basis of MVD could be trauma of the nerve during operative dissection and “decompression.” The concept of MVC might be more convincing if MVD can be shown to cure a condition such as spasmodic torticollis, which cannot be remedied by damage to or section of the same cranial nerve or nerves.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (03) ◽  
pp. 291-295
Author(s):  
Masaaki Imai ◽  
Akihiro Hirayama ◽  
Kazuko Hotta ◽  
Naokazu Hayashi ◽  
Shinri Oda ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. V2
Author(s):  
Mitchell W. Couldwell ◽  
Vance Mortimer, AS ◽  
William T. Couldwell

Microvascular decompression is a well-established technique used to relieve abnormal vascular compression of cranial nerves and associated pain. Here the authors describe three cases in which a sling technique was used in the treatment of cranial nerve pain syndromes: trigeminal neuralgia with predominant V2 distribution, hemifacial spasm, and geniculate neuralgia and right-sided ear pain. In each case, the artery was mobilized from the nerve and tethered with a sling. All three patients had reduction of symptoms within 6 weeks.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/iM7gukvPz6E


Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammadali M. Shoja ◽  
R. Shane Tubbs ◽  
Majid Khalili ◽  
Kazem Khodadoost ◽  
Marios Loukas ◽  
...  

Abstract ESMAIL JORJANI WAS a prominent Persian physician of the 11th and 12th centuries. We present Jorjani's descriptions of probable trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and Bell's palsy. Additionally, on the basis of our translations of his original text, we believe that Jorjani may have been the first to implicate an artery-nerve conflict as an etiology of trigeminal neuralgia. This theory, documented in Jorjani's Treasure of the Khawarazm Shah and elaborated on by Dandy and Jannetta, constitutes the basis of a modern surgical approach to trigeminal neuralgia. The authors also describe the life and works of Esmail Jorjani and review his Treasure for its descriptions related to the aforementioned cranial nerve pathologies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 1167-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Nan Wang ◽  
Jun Zhong ◽  
Jin Zhu ◽  
Ning-Ning Dou ◽  
Lei Xia ◽  
...  

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1251-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven N. Kalkanis ◽  
Emad N. Eskandar ◽  
Bob S. Carter ◽  
Fred G. Barker

Abstract OBJECTIVE Microvascular decompression (MVD) is associated with low mortality and morbidity rates at specialized centers, but many MVD procedures are performed outside such centers. We studied short-term end points after MVD in a national hospital discharge database sample. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed by using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1996 to 2000. RESULTS The sample included 1326 MVD procedures for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, 237 for treatment of hemifacial spasm, and 27 for treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, performed at 305 hospitals by 277 identified surgeons. The mortality rate was 0.3%, and the rate of discharge other than to home was 3.8%. Neurological complications were coded in 1.7% of cases, hematomas in 0.5%, and facial palsies in 0.6%, with 0.4% of patients requiring ventriculostomies and 0.7% postoperative ventilation. Trigeminal nerve section was also coded for 3.4% of patients with trigeminal neuralgia, more commonly among older patients (P = 0.08), among female patients (P = 0.03), and at teaching hospitals (P = 0.02). The median annual caseloads were 5 cases per hospital (range, 1–195 cases) and 3 cases per surgeon (range, 1–107 cases). With adjustment for age, sex, race, primary insurance, diagnosis (trigeminal neuralgia versus hemifacial spasm versus glossopharyngeal neuralgia), geographic region, admission type and source, and medical comorbidities, outcomes at discharge were superior at higher-volume hospitals (P = 0.006) and with higher-volume surgeons (P = 0.02). Complications were less frequent after surgery performed at high-volume hospitals (P = 0.04) or by high-volume surgeons (P = 0.01). The rate of discharge other than to home was 5.1% for the lowest-volume-quartile hospitals, compared with 1.6% for the highest-volume-quartile hospitals. Volume and mortality rate were not significantly related, but three of the four deaths in the series followed procedures performed by surgeons who had performed only one MVD procedure that year. Length of stay (median, 3 d) and hospital volume were not significantly related. Hospital charges were slightly higher at higher-volume hospitals (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION Although most MVD procedures in the United States are performed at low-volume centers, mortality rates remain low. Morbidity rates are significantly lower at high-volume hospitals and with high-volume surgeons.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 692-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto J Perez-Roman ◽  
Stephanie H Chen ◽  
Samir Sur ◽  
Roberto Leon-Correa ◽  
Jacques J Morcos

Abstract BACKGROUND Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) are hyperactive dysfunction syndromes (HDS) commonly caused by microvascular compression of their root entry zone. Cases of combined HDS involving 2 or more of these entities are extremely rare. Although microvascular decompression is the surgical treatment of choice, there are additional techniques that have been described as efficient methods to accomplish vessel transposition. OBJECTIVE To our knowledge, we present the first reported case of triple simultaneous HDS successfully treated using the clip-sling technique to achieve microvascular decompression. We discuss several technical pearls and pitfalls relevant to the use of the sling suspension technique. METHODS We report the rare case of a 66-yr-old male with combined simultaneous unilateral right-sided TN, HFS, and GPN because of a dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar system compressing the exit zones of the right trigeminal, facial, and glossopharyngeal nerves and present a literature review of combined HDS and their different surgical treatments. RESULTS Symptomatic TN, HFS, and GPN have been reported 8 times in the literature with our case being the ninth. A retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed for microvascular decompression of the brainstem with a clip-sling suspension technique augmented with Teflon felt pledgets. The patient had immediate complete relief from TN, HFS, and GPN postoperatively. CONCLUSION Microvascular decompression using the clip-sling technique via a retrosigmoid approach should be considered as a safe and effective option for transposition and suspension of the offending artery and decompression of the affected nerve roots in cases of combined HDS.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document