Do bubbles matter amid PBC for trigeminal neuralgia?

Background: As a simple and safe alternative intervention, percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) has been gradually adopted by a growing number of neurosurgeons to treat trigeminal neuralgia. A pear-shaped opacity observed fluoroscopically, which indicates full suffusion of Meckel's cave conducting sufficient pressure against Gasserian ganglion, is believed to be the key to its success. Sometimes, a bitten pear may appear due to bubbles in the balloon but is usually ignored.

Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy With Bilateral Decompression Surgery in Severe Lumbar Stenosis Under Electrophysiological Monitoring-Focused on Full-Visualized Trephine/Osteotome.

Objective: Although endoscopic drill has the advantages in manipulation and hemostasis, whose low efficiency and blurred vision reduce the efficacy of lumbar endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression (LE-ULBD). The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of full-visualized trephine/osteotome in the LE-ULBD surgery for severe lumbar stenosis.

Methods: Fifty-seven severe lumbar stenosis patients who underwent LE-ULBD between January 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled, who were divided into drill and visualized trephine groups.

The Value of a Headless Pear Shape in Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Background And Objectives: Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) has been regarded as a simple and effective remedy for trigeminal neuralgia. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the correlation between intraoperative balloon shapes and postoperative outcomes.

Method: Those consecutive PBC cases performed in our department between 2019 and 2022 were reviewed.

A Comparative Review of the Outcome Following MVD and PBC in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Background:  This study aims to systematically review the treatment outcomes of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) and microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Methods:  A systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials databases. Only those articles with more than 5 years' follow-up length were included in this investigation.

Microvascular decompression for pediatric onset trigeminal neuralgia: patterns and variation.

Objectives: Pediatric trigeminal neuralgia has been rarely reported in the literature, which were only 28 cases. Although microvascular decompression (MVD) has been widely accepted as effective therapy for trigeminal neuralgia, the etiology and surgical treatment of pediatric ones are seldom addressed. We report our experience with MVD for pediatric trigeminal neuralgia patients with emphasis on the vascular conflict patterns and surgical skills.

Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia with "Microvascular Decompression Plus" Technique.

 Although microvascular decompression (MVD) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), some patients have not been cured. To improve the postoperative outcome, the surgical procedure should be further refined.  This is a retrospective study.

The effect of IL-6/Piezo2 on the trigeminal neuropathic pain.

The nature of trigeminal neuropathic pain (TN) attacks is regarded as the ignition of ectopic action potentials from the trigeminal root following vascular compression, which seemed to be related to transmembrane proteins and inflammation factors. This study focused on the mechanosensitive channel Piezo2 and cytokine IL-6. The chronic constriction injury of infraorbital nerve in SD rats was used to establish the TN model.

IL-6 contributes to Na1.3 up-regulation in trigeminal nerve following chronic constriction injury.

: To verify the hypothesis that the nature of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an ectopic impulse induced by sodium channel modulated by cytokines, we conducted an animal study using the infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) model in rats.: The expression of Nav1.3 or IL-6 in the infraorbital nerve (ION) and trigeminal ganglion (TG) were detected by western blot and immunocytochemistry after administration of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide sequence (AS), IL-6 or Anti-IL-6.

The expression of voltage-gated sodium channels in trigeminal nerve following chronic constriction injury in rats.

Despite the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia has been verified by microvascular decompression as vascular compression of the trigeminal root, very few researches concerning its underlying pathogenesis has been reported in the literature. The present study focused on those voltage-gated sodium channels, which are the structural basis for generation of ectopic action potentials. The trigeminal neuralgia modeling was obtained with infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (ION-CCI) in rats.

A correlative analysis between inflammatory cytokines and trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm.

Background: It is necessary to understand the mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) in order to seek for an effective noninvasive remedy. As previous studies implied that inflammatory cytokines induced by demyelination following the nerve injury may be the initiated factor causing neuropathic pain, we attempt to analyze the correlation between cytokines and these hyperactive cranial nerve disorders.

Method: The consecutive patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by microvascular decompression surgery as primary TN or HFS caused by vascular compression and healthy volunteers between March and May 2018 in XinHua Hospital Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine were recruited.

Pain threshold monitoring during chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve in rats.

The chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the infraorbital nerve (ION) has been used to establish an animal mode of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), but key parameters of the model have not been quantified until now. The aim of the study was to quantify a standard of pain threshold to evaluate a successful TN model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Forty-eight adult SD rats (200-220 g) underwent chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve.

A Novel C2 Screw Trajectory: Preliminary Anatomic Feasibility and Biomechanical Comparison.

Background: Pedicle screw and translaminar screw fixation in C2 may not be applicable in many patients with anatomic abnormalities or narrow laminar thickness and spinous process height. The aim of this study was to assess morphometric and mechanical feasibilities of a novel alternative screw trajectory that pierces the bifid base of C2.

Methods: Anatomic measurements that determined the feasibility of spinous process bifid base (SPB) screw fixation were assessed in 14 cadaveric C2 vertebrae.

Microvascular decompression for glossopharyngeal neuralgia: a retrospective analysis of 228 cases.

Background: Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is an uncommon craniofacial pain syndrome caused by neurovascular conflict. Compared to trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm, the incidence of GPN was very low. Until now, little is known about the long-term outcome following microvascular decompression (MVD) process.

A comparative study of intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes between atypical and typical hemifacial spasms.

In most hemifacial spasm cases, the spasm initiates from the orbicularis occuli muscle and gradually spreads downwards to the orbicularis oris and buccinator muscles. Seldomly, the spasm might start from the orbicularis oris and buccinator muscles and develop upwards, which has been called as atypical hemifacial spasm (aHFS). Until now, little is known about its pathogenesis and the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery.

One-Pot Aqueous Synthesization of Near-Infrared Quantum Dots for Bioimaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Gliomas.

Background: As the early detection and total destruction of gliomas are essential for longer survival, we attempted to synthesize a quantum dot (QD) that is capable of recognizing glioma cells for imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Methods: Using a one-pot aqueous approach, near infrared-emitting CdTe was produced. After detection of its physicochemical characteriistics, it was conjugated with RGD.

The Significance of Abnormal Muscle Response Monitoring During Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm.

Background: Despite the wide adoption of the abnormal muscle response (AMR) to electrical stimulation of the facial nerve during microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery, the value of AMR in the prognosis of the postoperative outcome is still controversial. In order to better use this intraoperative electrophysiology, it is necessary to further address the relationship between AMR and postoperative results.

Methods: Three hundred and thirty-two patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) in whom MVD surgery was performed and in whom AMR was available were finally enrolled in this study.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with a Compressive C-JAWS Staple.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is currently the most commonly used technique in cervical surgery. But the implantation of a traditional plate is time-consuming and exposes the patient to additional adverse events. In this study, we analyzed results in patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with C-JAWS fixation.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a compressive staple of C-JAWS.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of C-JAWS in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2013, nine consecutive patients with cervical spondylopathy underwent ACDF process using a polyetheretherketone cervical spacer prefilled with bone substitute and secured by a cervical compressive staple in our department. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) score and visual analogy scale (VAS) of neck or arm pain as well as radiographic examination were adopted to assess the postoperative outcome and fusion.

Fatal complications following microvascular decompression: could it be avoided and salvaged?

Although the microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery has become an effective remedy for cranial nerve rhizopathies, it is still challengeable and may result in a fatal sequel sometimes. Therefore, the operative skill needs to be further highlighted with emphasis on the safety and a preplan for management of postoperative fatal complications should be established. We retrospectively analyzed 6974 cases of MVD.

Teflon Might Be a Factor Accounting for a Failed Microvascular Decompression in Hemifacial Spasm: A Technical Note.

Background: Although Teflon is widely adopted for microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery, it has never been addressed for failure analysis. This study analyzed the reasons for failed MVDs with emphasis on the Teflon sponge.

Methods: Among the 685 hemifacial spasm cases between 2010 and 2014, 31 were reoperated on within a week because of unsatisfactory outcome, which was focused on in this study.

Management of symptomatic hemifacial spasm or trigeminal neuralgia.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) or trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a kind of hyperactivity disorder of cranial nerves caused by vascular compression. However, sometimes, the disease may arise from nerve damage produced by tumors, which was called as symptomatic HFS/TN. Until now, little is known about the exact mechanism and the necessity of microvascular decompression (MVD) regarding the tumor-induced HFS/TN, which is necessary to be retrospectively analyzed in a considerable sample.

Management of Bilateral Hemifacial Spasm with Microvascular Decompression.

Background: Bilateral hemifacial spasm (HFS) is very rare. The literature contains only 32 clinical reports. Although microvascular decompression (MVD) is widely accepted as effective therapy for HFS, the etiology and surgical treatment of bilateral HFS are seldom addressed.