Microvascular decompression and partial sensory rhizotomy in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: personal experience with 220 patients.

The results of the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by neurovascular decompression or partial sensory rhizotomy in a personal series of 220 patients are presented. Microvascular decompression was performed in 178 patients and partial sensory rhizotomy in 42. The mean follow-up was 5.2 years. Immediate pain relief was achieved in 94% of all patients, but the rate dropped to 84% during the follow-up period. The recurrence rate in the microvascular decompression group was 6% and in the PSR 49%. Permanent sequelae occurred in 4 patients (loss of hearing, 1; loss of corneal reflex, 1; lesion of the portio minor, 2), but transitory complications (impaired hearing caused by hematotympanum and diplopia) were more frequent, especially in the beginning of the series. Elderly patients tolerated the procedure very well and the percentage of complications was evenly distributed in all age groups. Three patients died. No patient developed painful dysesthesias or anesthesia dolorosa. There were no differences in the outcome, considering sex and age. The duration of symptoms did not influence the prognosis. Patients with severe compression did better than those with a mild one, and patients with an arterial compression did better than those with a venous one. Trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis is seldom relieved by microvascular decompression. The experience of the surgeon reduces the number of negative findings considerably.

Microvascular relations of the trigeminal nerve: an anatomical study.

The neurovascular relationships in the trigeminal root entry zone were studied in 130 trigeminal root entry zones of 65 cadavers. No history of facial or trigeminal pain had been obtained during life in these subjects. The technique of intravascular injection, which allowed good visualization and evaluation of the neurovascular relationships, is described. A total of 42 examples of contact with the root entry zone and 10 examples of compression were identified. In 30 of the examples of contact, the finding could be related to an artery; in the other examples, it appeared to be due to veins. Of the arterial compressions, the superior cerebellar artery was responsible in 53.8%, the anterior inferior cerebellar artery was responsible in 25.6%, and pontine branches of the basilar artery were responsible for the remaining 20.6%. Only one instance of unequivocal compression by a vein was found. Other anatomical observations of interest are reported. The absence of a history of trigeminal neuralgia in the 7% of examined nerves in which root entry zone showed arterial compression is in marked contrast to the finding of 80% or more in the operative series for trigeminal neuralgia. It seems that vascular compressions may be the predominant but not the sole cause of trigeminal neuralgia.

Stunning device as a suicide weapon.

Thirteen patients who had attempted suicide with the stunning device, were treated over a time span of eleven years. Five of them died. The survivors made a satisfactory recovery with minor neurological sequelae only. The characteristics of this type of brain injury are: high incidence of infection (all developed meningitis and six of them brain abscesses), with prevalence of gram negative animal strains and technical difficulties in removing foreign bodies from the deeper part of the missile track.

Factors influencing the outcome in acute subdural haematoma. A review of 330 cases.

A series of 330 consecutive patients with acute subdural haematomas has been selected to analyze the clinical signs which influence the outcome. To assure a uniformity, the material dates from before the CT era. Four main factors have been selected: age, pupillary changes, dynamics of the clinical development, and the state of consciousness. The importance and the characteristics of different factors are discussed. A simple grading system, which was used as a prognostic orientation guide, is presented. Finally, some prognostic conclusions are made.

Addition of IFN-alpha to treatment of malignant brain tumors.

Despite many attempts to improve the survival after surgery of patients with malignant astrocytoma the prognosis is poor. We have used natural IFN-alpha in 16 patients with malignant astrocytoma treated between 1987 and 1990; 6 for recurrent tumors. Radiation therapy was given in 2 Gy fractions daily to a total dose of 50 Gy in the tumor area, 5 fractions per week and IFN twice per week, cisplatinum 60 mg/m2 i.v. every second week and vincristine 2 mg every week in 12-h i.v. infusions. Eight patients were reoperated when clinical deterioration suggested recurrent tumor; histological examination showed no residual tumor in 7 of them. Of these 8 patients 3 are alive and well, 2 of them after more than 5 years. The study suggests that malignant astrocytoma can be successfully eradicated with surgery, irradiation, IFN-alpha and chemotherapy. The treatment had, however, unacceptably high neurotoxicity. Earlier removal of the tumor necrosis, before clinical deterioration, could possibly diminish the high complication rate and consequently improve survival.

Improvement of some abnormal motor functions by electrical stimulation.

Clinical results obtained from electrical stimulation of muscle, nerve, spinal cord, cerebellum, and cerebrum are surveyed. Some more data are presented from our own experience with stimulating denervated muscle and cerebellum. Mechanisms which might be responsible for its clinical effects on the muscle, synapse, or nervous system are discussed.