ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of percutaneous micro-balloon compression (PBC) trigeminal ganglion for the treatment refractory trigeminal neuralgia. Methods Surgical results of 452 patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by PBC from October 2009 to May 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. 125 cases aged over 80 years old and 70 cases′ pain belongs to the first branch neuralgia. Such procedures as Meckle′s cave cannulated with No.4 Forgarty catheter and the balloon inflated and compressed the gasserian ganglion monitored by X-ray were observed by PBC. Follow-up interview and curative effects were recorded. Results The average hospitalization was 6.1 days. Among them, 432(95.6%) cases had immediate relief from pain. The overall pain relief rate was 97.8% in our group without serious surgical complications. Postoperative complications include hemifacial numbness in 385 patients (85.2%), mild masseter muscle weakness in 248 patients (54.9%), diplopia in 2 patients. All symptoms relived or disappeared within 1 ~ 6 months. The average follow-up intervier period is 23.5 months. The recurrence rate is 10.2% (46 cases). Conclusion PBC is a safe and effective method with high pain relief rate in the treatment of refractory trigeminal neuralgia , especially for the treatment of the high risk patients , patients with recurrent symptoms or the patients suffered from the first branch neuralgia.