Percutaneous micro-balloon compression for treatment of high risk idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and complications of percutaneous micro-balloon compression (PMC) of trigeminal ganglion for high risk idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: To analyze retrospectively the clinical data of 3 053 cases of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, of which 804 cases were in high risk, who underwent PMC from Jan.2001 to Dec. 2007 in our department. Results: 833 procedures were performed on these 804 patients. The immediate effective rate was 97.3%; with recurrence rate of 6.8%, ipsilateral paresthesia incidence 3.7%; and no keratohelcosis with approximately 2/3 masticatory muscles weakness and diplopia 0.2%: Mean follow-up time was 36 months. Conclusions: PMC procedure is very effective for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia especially in high risk patients, and especially prefer for the pain involved the first branch neuralgia.