No abstract available.
Microvascular Decompression Surgery*

Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Neuralgia ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: The microvascular decompression(MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia(TN) is known as an effective surgical technique. But the failed MVD cases have been reported in long term follow-up studies. This study is to evaluate the efficacy of MVD through our operative techniques, offending vessels in operative field, failed cases with the review of the literatures. METHODS: We analyzed total 63 cases of TN which underwent MVD from 1955 to 2003 according to characters of pain, operative findings, operative results related to causative vessel compression and operative method, progonotic factor. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test with SPSS Ver 11.0. RESULTS: In TN, the most common offending vessel was superior cerebellar artery(45.0%). In compression group of nerve root by offending vessel, the cure rate was 91.7%. However, the cure rate of the contact group was 64.7% and the cure rate of the negative group was 37.5%. There was no statistical significance between the degree of compression by vessel and the operative result(p=0.076). In 51 cases with MVD only, the cure rate was 84.3% and in 3 cases with PSR only, 42.8% and in 2 cases with PSR(partial sensory rhizotomy) with MVD, 50.0%. TN recurred in 7 cases within the follow-up period and reoperations(PSR) were added in 2 cases of them. CONCLUSION: This study shows that MVD provided a high rate of success with a minor risk of complications, which has been regarded as the most safe and effective procedure for trigeminal neuralgia. Additional MVD in recurred TN by severe adhesion of teflon showed poor outcome. But, revisional operation(PSR) in recurred TN showed relatively good outcome. PSR should be considered for treatment of recurrent TN after MVD.
Follow-Up Studies ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

OBJECTIVE: Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is the least invasive surgical option for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, the indications and long term outcomes of GKRS are still controversial. Additionally, a series with uniform long-term follow-up data for all patients has been lacking. In the present study, the authors analyzed long-term outcomes in a series of patients with TN who underwent a single GKRS treatment followed by a minimum follow-up of 60 months. METHODS: From 1994 to 2009, 40 consecutive patients with typical, intractable TN received GKRS. Among these, 22 patients were followed for >60 months. The mean maximum radiation dose was 77.1 Gy (65.2-83.6 Gy), and the 4 mm collimator was used to target the radiation to the root entry zone. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.5 years (25-84 years). The mean follow-up period was 92.2 months (60-144 months). According to the pain intensity scale in the last follow-up, 6 cases were grades I-II (pain-free with or without medication; 27.3%) and 7 cases were grade IV-V (<50% pain relief with medication or no pain relief; 31.8%). There was 1 case (facial dysesthesia) with post-operative complications (4.54%). CONCLUSION: The long-term results of GKRS for TN are not as satisfactory as those of microvascular decompression and other conventional modalities, but GKRS is a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique which might be considered a first-line therapy for a limited group of patients for whom a more invasive kind of treatment is unsuitable.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Radiosurgery ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

No abstract available.
Arachnoid* ; Cranial Nerves* ; Facial Nerve* ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery*

The authors present a case of isolated dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) in the transverse sinus, which developed six years after microvascular decompression caused by hemifacial spasm via suboccipital craniectomy. The lesion was successfully treated by transarterial embolization using Onyx. We reviewed the related radiologic and therapeutic features of DAVF involving an isolated sinus and described the feasibility of the use of Onyx.
Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate of the significance of intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring and follow up electrophysiologic study at seven days after microvascular decompression(MVD) for hemifacial spasm(HFS). METHODS: Thirty nine patients with hemifacial spasm were included in this study and were treated with MVD of the facial nerve from Jun 1990 to May 2001. The patients were divided into a monitoring group and a non-monitoring group. We compared the surgical outcomes, operation related complications between two groups. The abnormal muscle response(AMR) of preoperative electromyographic recording appeared on the mentalis muscle during stimulation of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve was compared with those of changed during operation, immediately after operation and at postoperative 7th day(POD 7). The relationship between degree of AMR disappearance and surgical outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference in surgical outcomes but significant difference in the incidence of operation-related complications between two groups. The results of electrophysiologic study at POD 7 were significantly correlated with surgical outcome in the monitoring group. CONCLUSION: The electrophysiologic study is helpful for identifying the offenders, determining the adequacy of vascular decompression and decrease of operation-related complications. The clinical and electrophysiologic status of HFS after MVD has continuously changed, and therefore the results of eletrophysiologic study at POD 7 are useful for predicting the surgical outcome.
Criminals ; Decompression ; Electromyography* ; Facial Nerve ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery*

OBJECTIVE: Hemifacial spasm has characteristic and specific electrophysiological finding, lateral spread response(LSR). We study the correlation between change of lateral spread response during microvascular decompression(MVD) and clinical outcome after MVD. METHODS: Sixty two patients with hemifacial spasm who were treated with microvascular decompression from March 2000 to February 2003 were included in this study. The monitoring of intraoperative facial electromyography(EMG) and brain stem auditory evoked potential were performed. RESULTS: In 28 (44.7%) patients, there was persistence of lateral spread response after vascular decompression in root exit zone of facial nerve. Among these 28 patients, 9 had mild hemifacial spasm at discharge. Three out of 34 patients who had intraoperative disappearance of lateral spread response after MVD had mild hemifacial spasm. But Both groups, disappearance of LSR (Group I), and persistence (Group II) had only 2 patients with mild hemifacial spasm, and 5 patients at 3 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although intraoperative EMG monitoring is very useful in assessing the efficacy of MVD, the clinical outcome of MVD in patient with hemifacial spasm does not always correlate with EMG finding. The prognostic value of intraoperative LSR monitoring in the long-term results is questionable.
Decompression ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Facial Nerve ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this large prospective study is to assess the association between the disappearance of the lateral spread response (LSR) before and after microvascular decompression (MVD) and clinical long term results over two years following hemifacial spasm (HFS) treatment. METHODS: Continuous intra-operative monitoring during MVD was performed in 244 consecutive patients with HFS. Patients with persistent LSR after decompression (n=22, 9.0%), without LSR from the start of the surgery (n=4, 1.7%), and with re-operation (n=15, 6.1%) and follow-up loss (n=4, 1.7%) were excluded. For the statistical analysis, patients were categorized into two groups according to the disappearance of their LSR before or after MVD. RESULTS: Intra-operatively, the LSR was checked during facial electromyogram monitoring in 199 (81.5%) of the 244 patients. The mean follow-up duration was 40.9+/-6.9 months (range 25-51 months) in all the patients. Among them, the LSR disappeared after the decompression (Group A) in 128 (64.3%) patients; but in the remaining 71 (35.6%) patients, the LSR disappeared before the decompression (Group B). In the post-operative follow-up visits over more than one year, there were significant differences between the clinical outcomes of the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was observed that the long-term clinical outcomes of the intra-operative LSR disappearance before and after MVD were correlated. Thus, this factor may be considered a prognostic factor of HFS after MVD.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Prospective Studies

A case of spasmodic torticollis in a 48-year-old man cured by micovascular decompression of the spinal accessory nerve with selective dorsal cervical rhizotomy of the first and second cervical nerves. The 11th nerve was compressed by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery originating from the vertebral artery at the C1 level. After intraoperative identification of each posterior rootlets of C1 and C2 nerves exclusively related with the involved sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) using the monopolar electric nerve stimulator, microvascular decompression with selective dorsal cervical rhizotomy was done using the Teflon felt and electrobipolar coagulator. The patient was significantly relieved from symptoms 1 week after operation.
Accessory Nerve ; Arteries ; Decompression ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Rhizotomy ; Torticollis* ; Vertebral Artery