Explore the cutting-edge advancements in treating the excruciating pain of trigeminal neuralgia as we delve into a comparative study between fluoroscope-guided and neuronavigated percutaneous balloon compression techniques.
– by James
Note that James is a diligent GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Trigeminal Neuralgia. A Comparative Study Between the Fluoroscope Guided and Neuronavigated Technique.
D’Ercole et al., Acta Neurochir Suppl 2023
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36084-8_25
Study Summary:
The study compares two techniques for performing Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC), a treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN): traditional fluoroscopic guidance and intraoperative CT navigation. The research involved a retrospective analysis of 37 patients who underwent PBC. The key findings include:
- Both techniques resulted in a significant improvement in pain one month after the procedure (p < 0.0001 for both groups).
- The neuronavigated technique led to a significant increase in radiation exposure compared to the fluoroscopic method (p < 0.0001).
The authors recommend considering neuronavigation for PBC primarily in selected cases, such as patients with a history of multiple surgeries where difficult access is anticipated.
Importance:
This study is important as it evaluates the efficacy and safety of two different PBC techniques, providing evidence that while both are effective for pain relief, the newer CT navigation method comes with the drawback of increased radiation exposure.
Contribution to Literature:
The research contributes to the literature by quantifying the trade-offs between efficacy and patient safety in terms of radiation exposure for two PBC techniques, guiding clinical decision-making for TN treatment.