Clinical effect of percutaneous balloon compression versus microvascular decompression in treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

  Objective  To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) and microvascular decompression (MVD) in treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and their short-term efficacy.

  Methods  Thirty patients with trigeminal neuralgia were selected. Fifteen patients received PBC treatment (PBC group) and fifteen patients received MVD treatment (MVD group). The basic information, total hospitalization cost, operation time, total hospitalization time and postoperative complication rate of two groups were compared; postoperative pain degree of the two groups was evaluated.

  Results  The total hospitalization cost in the PBC group was significantly lower, and the operation time and total hospitalization time were significantly shorter than those in the MVD group (P < 0.05); mean age of the PBC group was significantly higher than that of the MVD group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative pain relief rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative facial numbness in the MVD group was significantly lower than that in the PBC group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The short-term efficacy of MVD and PBC is similar. The incidence of postoperative complications of MVD is lower than that of PBC, and PBC is more suitable for elderly patients.