Case report: Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression for glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Pain Management

Background:

• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a debilitating condition characterized by severe facial and ear pain.
• Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a primary surgical treatment for GPN, traditionally performed with open surgery.
• Advances in endoscopic technology have enabled minimally invasive neurosurgical approaches.

Observation:

• A patient with a 3-year history of recurrent left-sided GPN presented with severe ear and facial pain.
• The patient underwent a fully endoscopic microvascular decompression procedure.
• Postoperative assessment revealed significant relief of the patient's GPN symptoms.

Findings:

• Fully endoscopic MVD demonstrated high efficacy in treating glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
• The patient experienced substantial pain reduction following the procedure.
• No recurrence of symptoms was noted at the 6-month follow-up, indicating sustained effectiveness.

Implications:

• Endoscopy offers distinct advantages for microvascular decompression procedures.
• Fully endoscopic MVD presents a safe and effective alternative for GPN treatment.
• This approach may improve patient outcomes and reduce recovery times for GPN patients.