Factors Determining the Outcome in Trigeminal Neuralgia Treated With Percutaneous Balloon Compression

OBJECTIVE: To analyze 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical features of patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who underwent percutaneous balloon compression and to determine whether these findings had an impact on prognosis of TN

Neuronavigation-assisted percutaneous balloon compression for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: The technique and short-term clinical results.

Background. Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) has been widely used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, this technique has a steep learning curve and significant complications were reported that were related to foramen ovale puncturing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of a small patient group who underwent neuronavigation-assisted PBC. Methods. An intraoperative computed tomography (CT) device (CereTom, Neurologica, Danvers, MA/USA) was used to obtain CT scans with 2-mm slice thicknesses. The data were transferred to a neuronavigation system planning station (BrainLab, Feldkirchen, Germany). A soft touch registration system was used for image registration. With the image guidance, a trajectory was defined and the foramen ovale was cannulated using neuronavigation and Hartel's landmarks. Results. Sixteen procedures were performed on 13 patients (4 female and 9 male) without complications. The total length of the procedure was not more than 57 min in all instances. Conclusions. We believe that image-guided neuronavigation is useful for neurosurgeons who are at the beginning of their PBC learning curve. It may also be an alternative for particular patients with significant anatomic variations that result in an unsuccessful foramen ovale puncture

Unilateral Endoscopic Optic Nerve Decompression for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Series of 10 Patients

OBJECTIVE: Several surgical treatment modalities, including lumboperitoneal or ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, subtemporal decompression, endovascular venous sinus stenting, optic nerve decompression (OND), were used in the management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Each surgical technique has different advantages and disadvantages. Endoscopic OND is rarely used in the management of IIH. There are only four reported cases. The aim of this study is to describe the surgical results of patients treated with this less invasive surgical technique

Fully Endoscopic Interlaminar and Transforaminal Lumbar Discectomy: Short-Term Clinical Results of 163 Surgically Treated Patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with lumbar disc disease undergoing fully endoscopic surgery at a single clinic