Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Vertebrobasilar Artery-Related Trigeminal Neuralgia

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) in treating trigeminal neuralgia with the vertebrobasilar artery as the responsible vessel. This retrospective study included 40 individuals diagnosed with vertebrobasilar artery-related trigeminal neuralgia (VBA-TN) who were receiving PBC between February 2021 and December 2024. These patients subsequently underwent PBC and received postoperative follow-up. Data on age, sex, preoperative pain intensity and duration, involved nerve branches, comorbidities, associated vasculature, and prior interventions were collected. Surgical details and postoperative complication records were statistically analyzed. All 40 patients (21 males, 19 females) achieved immediate postoperative pain relief. During a follow-up period of 3 to 45 months, pain control was maintained in 33 cases (82.5%), while 7 patients (17.5%) experienced recurrence (BNI score IV-V). The surgical efficacy rate was 82.5%, with no severe complications reported. The limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and the lack of long-term follow-up data. PBC is a safe and effective low-complication intervention for VBA-TN. However, evidence available is insufficient to support its priority over alternative therapies.