Percutaneous microcompression of the trigeminal ganglion for trigeminal neuralgia

Fifty patients were treated for trigeminal neuralgia by percutaneous microcompression of the trigeminal ganglion. A No. 4 Fogarty balloon catheter was inserted under brief general anesthesia, using biplane fluoroscopy. This procedure is essentially a percutaneous simplication of the older Taarnhøj-Sheldon-Pudenz operation. The follow-up period ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 years. Pain recurred in 12% of cases during that time, and it is anticipated that within 5 years the recurrence rate will reach 20%, which is approximately the same rate as for the alternative established procedures. The advantages of this technique are freedom from discomfort on the part of the patient, a remarkable ease of performance on the part of the operator, absence of associated mortality, and a minimal morbidity rate.