• Hong-bing Liu, Yi Ma, Jian-jun Zou, and Xin-gang Li.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
• Chinese Med J Peking. 2007 Feb 5; 120 (3): 228-30.

BackgroundPercutaneous microballoon compression (PMC) for trigeminal neuralgia is an important therapeutic method. The aim of this study was to review the effects of PMC for trigeminal neuralgia in 276 patients.MethodsFrom December 2000 to May 2003, 276 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with PMC. The course of the disease ranged from 3 months to 38 years. Under the guidance of C-arm X-ray, 14# needle was placed into the foramen ovale using the classical Hakanson's technique. Fogarty balloon catheter was navigated into the Meckel's cave tenderly. A small amount of Omnipaque was slowly injected to inflate the balloon and compress the trigeminal ganglion for 3 to 10 minutes.ResultsA total of 290 PMC were performed on the 276 patients. Among them, 252 had immediate relief from pain. The patients were followed up for a mean of 18.7 months (range, 4 to 32), 14 of them had a recurrence. Of the 14 patients, 12 were re-operated with PMC, and the pain was all controlled successfully.ConclusionsPMC is an effective and technically simple method for trigeminal neuralgia. For older patients with trigeminal neuralgia, it may be the first choice.

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