Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, part II: Results related to compression duration

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to find out how different compression time affects the results of percutaneous trigeminal ganglion compression for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: This study includes 80 patients with intractable third-branch trigeminal (V3) neuralgia who had received percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression. All the patients received same treatment protocol except for the duration of compression. Group 1 patients received 60-second and Group 2 patients received 180-second compression. A computerized pressure recording system was used for pressure monitoring and analysis. RESULTS: Both groups had 100% immediate pain relief and all patients experienced mastication weakness immediately after the procedure. The facial numbness was severe in Group 2 in the first trigeminal (V1) distribution (p < 0.05) but not in the second or third trigeminal (V2, 3) distribution (p > 0.05) in the immediate period after the operation. The recurrence rate in the first year follow-up was higher in Group 1 (5%) than in Group 2 (2.5%) but did not reach the statistical difference (p > 0.05). At 1 year follow-up after the procedure, Group 1 had lower incidence of facial numbness over all trigeminal distribution (V1,2,3) than Group 2 (p < 0.05) mastication weakness all recovered during the first year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: With accurate monitoring of the balloon pressure during the percutaneous trigeminal ganglion compression, it was found that the shorter duration of compression had less side effect. At one year follow-up, the incidence of recurrence rate was slightly higher in the patients who received 60-second compression than in those who received 180-second compression, but there was no significant statistical difference. Whether patients with first or second branch of trigeminal neuralgia require longer compression duration needs further study.