• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.302-306
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• 1998

The authors report the result achieved in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia patient, especially V2 involved patient, using radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation of Gasserian ganglion. A 62-year old female patient had severe burning pain on right cheek usually initiating from upper molar teeth area for 10 years. She was treated with microvascular decompression operation 10 years ago. However, there was no pain relief by operation. She wanted non-surgical treatment. Therefore, we recommended RF thermocoagulation therapy. After 2 times of RF thermocoagulation, there was excellent pain relief without complications. And, for 6months follow-up, there were no pain, and no evidences of complication and recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.399-400
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• 2008

Hemifacial spasm induced by intracranial aneurysm is a rare clinical condition. A 45-year-old male patient presented with a 3-year history of progressive involuntary twitching movement on right face. On radiological study, a dilated vascular lesion compressing the brain stem was found at the junction of vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery. On operative field, we found the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the fusiform aneurysm compressing root exit zone of facial nerve. Microvascular decompression was performed and the facial symptom was relieved without complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.278-280
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• 2014

A 66-year-old man presented with typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) that came into contact with the trigeminal nerve. Based on MRA, we performed microvascular decompression (MVD). In the operational field, we confirmed the PTA location and performed MVD successfully. Postoperatively, the patient's pain subsided without any complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2023

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare disease that must be differentiated from trigeminal neuralgia. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and several options of treatment for GPN. Lessons learned through our experience of treating GPN are presented in detail, as well as cases of misdiagnosis and diagnostic pitfalls. Microvascular decompression (MVD) should be primarily considered for medically intractable GPN. Techniques employed in MVD for GPN are categorized and described. Especially, we underscore the advantages of the 'transposition' technique where insulating material is positioned 'off' the root entry zone (REZ), instead of 'on' it. We believe this 'off-the-REZ' technique can fundamentally prevent recurrence, if applicable. In addition, Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be an alternative option when a patient is ineligible for MVD, though it is categorized as a destructive procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 2015

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by unilateral facial nerve dysfunction. The usual cause involves vascular compression of the seventh cranial nerve, but compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve is very unusual. A 20-year-old man presented with left facial spasm that had persisted for 4 years. Compression of the left facial nerve root exit zone by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) was revealed on magnetic resonance angiography. During microvascular decompression surgery, penetration of the distal portion of the facial nerve root exit zone by the AICA was observed. At the penetrating site, the artery was found to have compressed the facial nerve and to be immobilized. The penetrated seventh cranial nerve was longitudinally split about 2 mm. The compressing artery was moved away from the penetrating site and the decompression was secured by inserting Teflon at the operative site. Although the facial spasm disappeared in the immediate postoperative period, the patient continued to show moderate facial weakness. At postoperative 12 months, the facial weakness had improved to a mild degree. Prior to performing microvascular decompression of HFS, surgeons should be aware of a possibility for rare complex anatomy, such as compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve, which cannot be observed by modern imaging techniques.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.64-65
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• 2014

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.245-248
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• 2008

Objective : This study is to investigate time course of symptom disappearance in patients whose spasm relieved completely after microvascular decompression (MVD). Methods : Of 115 patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) who underwent MVD from April 2003 to December 2006, 89 patients who had no facial paralysis after operation and showed no spasm at last follow-up more than 1.5 years after operation were selected. Symptom disappearance with time after MVD was classified into type 1 (symptom disappearance right after operation), type 2 (delayed symptom disappearance) and type 3 (unusual symptom disappearance). Type 2 was classified into type 2a (with postoperative silent period) and type 2b (without silent period). Results : Type 1, type 2a, type 2b and type 3 were 38.2%, 48.37%, 124% and 1.1%, respectively. Delayed disappearance group (type 2) was 60.7%. Post-operative symptom duration in all cases ranged from 0 to 900 days, average was 74.6 days and median was 14 days. In case of type 2, average post-operative symptom duration was 115.1 days and median was 42 days. Five and 3 patients required more than 1 year and 2 years, respectively, until complete disappearance of spasm. In type 2a, postoperative silent period ranged from 1 to 10 days, with an average of 24 days. Conclusion : Surgeons should be aware that delayed symptom disappearance after MVD for HFS is more common than it has been reported, silent period can be as long as 10 days and time course of symptom disappearance is various as well as unpredictable.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2012

Objective : Hemifacial spasm (HFS) caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is very rare, and in theses cases, it is difficult to decompress the nerve from its vascular compression. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) for HFS caused by VBD. Methods : There were 10 patients of HFS caused by VBD at our hospital between September 1978 and September 2008. We evaluated magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and time of flight magnetic resonance imaginge (TOF MRI) findings using the criteria for VBD. We compared the clinical outcomes of MVD for the 10 patients with VBD with the overall outcomes of the total 2058 MVDs performed for HFS. Results : The results of MVD for HFS caused by VBD were successful in 90.9% of cases. The postoperative complication rate in VBD was 45.5%. Offending vessels in patients with VBD were identified visually during surgery. Adverse effects after MVD were found in 4 patients. We found that the diameter of VBD was significantly greater in patients with complications than in those with no complications (p=0.028). Conclusion : Our data shows that MVD may be a good treatment modality for HFS caused by VBD but care must be taken to avoid adverse effects from the procedure. It is important to detach the dolichoectatic artery from its surrounding structures sufficiently to allow it to be easily movable. In addition, attempts should be made to lessen the retraction of the cerebellum during release of the dolichoectatic artery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and surgical outcomes of familial hemifacial spasm (HFS) and to discuss the role of genetic susceptibility. Methods : Between 2001 and 2011, 20 familial HFS patients with ten different pedigrees visited our hospital. The data from comprehensive evaluation of these patients, including clinical, radiological and electrophysiological data and surgical outcomes were reviewed to characterize familial HFS and to compare the characteristics between familial HFS and sporadic HFS. Results : According to the family tree, the inheritance pattern was difficult to define clearly using these data. Radiologic findings suggested that the vertebral artery (VA) was a more frequent offender in familial HFS than in sporadic cases (35.0% vs. 10.0%, p<0.001). Chi-square test showed that there were no correlation between VA tortuosity and underlying morbidity such as diabetes or hypertension (p=0.391). Eighteen out of 19 patients who underwent microvascular decompression showed no residual spasm. Other features of familial HFS overlap with sporadic cases. These findings suggest that certain genetic susceptibilities rather than hypertension or diabetes may influence vascular tortuosity and HFS development. Conclusion : In this study, familial HFS seems not so different from sporadic cases. Authors thought familial HFS could have heterogeneous etiology. Further study of familial HFS including clinical, anatomic, genetic, and molecular information may help identify a gene or trait that can provide insight into the mechanisms of sporadic and familial HFS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.738-748
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• 2017

Objective : We present our experience of microvascular decompression (MVD) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) and evaluate the postoperative outcomes in accordance with four different operative techniques during MVD. Methods : In total, 30 patients with intractable primary typical GPN who underwent MVD without rhizotomy and were followed for more than 2 years were included in the analysis. Each MVD was performed using one of four different surgical techniques : interposition of Teflon pieces, transposition of offending vessels using Teflon pieces, transposition of offending vessels using a fibrin-glue-coated Teflon sling, and removal of offending veins. Results : The posterior inferior cerebellar artery was responsible for neurovascular compression in 27 of 30 (90%) patients, either by itself or in combination with other vessels. The location of compression on the glossopharyngeal nerve varied; the root entry zone (REZ) only (63.3%) was most common, followed by both the REZ and distal portion (26.7%) and the distal portion alone (10.0%). In terms of detailed surgical techniques during MVD, the offending vessels were transposed in 24 (80%) patients, either using additional insulation, offered by Teflon pieces (15 patients), or using a fibrin glue-coated Teflon sling (9 patients). Simple insertion of Teflon pieces and removal of a small vein were also performed in five and one patient, respectively. During the 2 years following MVD, 29 of 30 (96.7%) patients were asymptomatic or experienced only occasional pain that did not require medication. Temporary hemodynamic instability occurred in two patients during MVD, and seven patients experienced transient postoperative complications. Neither persistent morbidity nor mortality was reported. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that MVD without rhizotomy is a safe and effective treatment option for GPN.