A “Reposition Technique” Microvascular Decompression in Trigeminal Neuralgia: Clinical Outcomes and Complications
Peerut Siwawetpikul MD* Anusak Leing-Udom MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Neurosurgery, Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Microvascular decompression (MVD) is effective for pain relief. Previous studies reported modifications of
operative technique.
Objective : To assess the clinical outcomes and complications of patients diagnosed with primary typical trigeminal neuralgia
underwent MVD with reposition technique.
Material and Method: From 2009 to 2015, 32 patients underwent MVD by a single surgeon at Prasat Neurological Institute.
The authors performed a retrospective chart review. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Barrow Neurological Institute Pain
Scale (BNI-PS) were used to analyze the pain intensity pre-operatively and 6 months postoperatively comparing the two
operative techniques.
Results : Patients experienced significant improvement in both VAS and BNI-PS after MVD in both techniques. The reposition
technique declared higher difference VAS compared with traditional technique (6.84 vs. 5.0, p = 0.008), whereas blood loss
was significantly higher.
Conclusion : Overall, two different techniques provide positive outcomes of pain relief. The authors suggested the optional
technique of MVD that would rather restrain the offending vessel than placing the Teflon sponge.
Keywords : Microvascular decompression, Trigeminal neuralgia, Reposition technique, Interposition technique, Visual Analogue Scale, Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale
