Minim Invas Neurosur
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Minim Invas Neurosur · Dec 2006
Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia: a long-term follow-up study.
In this report, we present our experience with microvascular decompression (MVD) as treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and discuss factors related to recurrence after this procedure. Between 1986 and 2004, 90 patients underwent MVD for treatment of idiopathic TN at the Marmara University Department of Neurosurgery and Marmara University Neurological Sciences Institute. Individuals with atypical and secondary forms of TN were excluded from the study. ⋯ There was no mortality associated with MVD in the 90 cases. The findings for our series of 90 patients with TN who underwent MVD indicate that this operation is an effective and reliable treatment for this condition. We recommend MVD as the first-line surgical approach for patients with TN who do not respond to medical management.