[Surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, paroxysmal tinnitus and nystagmus by neurovascular decompression]

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia, facial spasm, tinnitus, vertigo, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are believed to be the symptoms complex of hyperactive dysfunction of the cranial nerve caused by vascular cross compression at the root entry (exit) zone of the appropriate nerve. Posterior cranial fossa approach for the neurovascular decompression was enhanced by Jannetta et al (1975). From their experiences of surgery, they emphasized that these symptoms were relieved by surgery. In this report, we will discuss the etiology of the disease, the neurotological examination, the angiographic findings, the operative findings and results in a series of 10 patients who have undergone neurovascular decompression. The series consisted of 4 cases with trigeminal neuralgia, 5 cases with facial spasm, and 1 case with paroxysmal tinnitus accompanied by facial spasm. The postoperative progress in these all patients was excellent and relieved of the symptoms. There was neither mortality nor any significant complication. We stress that the neurovascular decompression surgery is now well justified as the definite treatment for the trigeminal neuralgia and facial spasm, because the surgery can be performed easily and safely by the neurosurgeons. The indication of the neurovascular decompression for the acoustic nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve is still controversial. In our own case, tinnitus was paroxysmal and complicated with facial spasm, not synchronous with facial spasm, but with nystagmus. This selective synchronism between tinnitus and nystagmus is a particular feature of our clinical instance. This particular clinical experience may provide some highly significant suggestions in considering the applicability of neurovascular decompression to the acoustic nerve.