Are the destructive neurosurgical techniques as effective as microvascular decompression in the management of...

There are no randomized controlled trials comparing TC, PTGC, and MVD for idiopathic TN at a single institution using quality criteria. The aim of the study was to assess the long-term outcome (efficiency and morbidity) of treated patients with one of these techniques in the same institution.

The authors present a retrospective study of 165 consecutive patients from 1983 to 2004. The inclusion criteria were drug-resistant idiopathic TN and intolerance to medical treatment. Three groups were set up according to the techniques used: group I (n = 73), treated by TC; group II (n = 41), treated by PTGC; group III (n = 51), treated by MVD. The main judgment criterion was pain relief. The second judgment criterion was morbidity. chi(2) or Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier, and log-rank were used for statistical analysis.

The 3 groups were homogeneous according to age, duration of evolution, and pain topography. Concerning sex, groups I and II were different (women, 58%; vs. 37%; P = .021). The immediate efficiency for the 3 groups was, respectively, 96%, 94%, and 95% (NS). At 6 years follow-up, 70%, 77%, and 72% of the patients, respectively, remained pain-free (NS). As determined by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, there was no difference between the 3 groups (log-rank, P = .867). Hypoesthesia was more frequent for PTGC (89%).

In our study, we did not find MVD to be more effective than the other techniques. However, it had the lowest long-term complication rate, which is a strong argument in choosing this technique as the initial procedure for young and healthy patients. Percutaneous techniques, however, are still recommended in specific circumstances.