Microsurgical vascular decompression (MVD) in trigeminal and glosso-vago-pharyngeal neuralgias. A twenty year experience.

Report of the results of treatment in 1380 cases with trigeminal neuralgia and 14 cases with glosso-vago-pharyngeal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia was treated by percutaneous thermorhizotomy in 960 cases and by open micro-approach to the cerebellopontine angle in 420 cases. In cases treated by microsurgical vascular decompression, cure rate was 91%, partial relief 5%, failure 4%. Recurrence occurred in 6%. Glossopharyngial neuralgia was treated by percutaneous thermocoagulation of the Andersch ganglion in 3 cases and by a direct approach to the jugular foramen in 11 cases, in 9 of them with micro-vascular decompression. With microsurgical vascular decompression, all cases had total pain relief without recurrence.