Long-Term Outcomes of Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve.
• Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) is a minimally invasive procedure for TN treatment.
• Optimizing PBC procedural parameters may improve long-term pain relief durability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term outcomes of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN).
• To compare the efficacy and safety of two PBC procedural protocols.
• To determine if procedural modifications influence the durability of pain relief in TN patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of TN patients undergoing PBC between January 2017 and December 2025.
• Comparison of two groups: Group A (baseline pressure for 180s) and Group B (10% increased pressure for 120s).
• Analysis of postoperative pain relief, recurrence rates, and complication rates.

Main Results:

• Immediate pain relief rates were similar between groups (90.7% vs 97.6%).
• The 5-year recurrence rate was significantly lower in Group B (9.6%) compared to Group A (22.4%).
• No significant difference in complication rates (excluding numbness) was observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• A modified PBC technique with increased pressure and duration improves long-term pain control for TN.
• Procedural optimization enhances the durability of therapeutic outcomes in PBC for TN.
• The modified technique offers improved long-term efficacy without increasing procedural risks.