Microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia - a prospective study of 115 patients

Table 3 Major complications after microvascular decompression (n = 115)

Complication	N (%) During the first 12 months	N (%) 24-months follow-up
Death	0	–
Infarction; cerebellar or brainstem	6 (5)	6 (5)
Haemorrhage; cerebellar or brainstem	1 (1)	1 (1)
Anaesthesia dolorosa	0^b	0
Meningitis	0	0
Cerebrospinal fluid leak	6 (5)	0
Hydrocephalus	0	0
Permanent ataxia	8 (7)^c	6 (5)
Permanent diplopia	0^d	0
Corneal keratitis	2 (2)^e	2 (2)
Permanent severe hypoesthesia	8 (7)^f	7 (6)
Permanent facial weakness/nerve palsy	3 (3)^g	3 (3)
Permanent hearing loss	1 (1)	1 (1)
Permanent hearing impairment	11 (10)	10 (9)

Values represent numbers of patients (%). Major complications were death, stroke, meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid leak, hydrocephalus, permanent ataxia, permanent diplopia, corneal keratitis, permanent severe hypoesthesia, anaesthesia dolorosa, permanent facial weakness/nerve palsy, permanent hearing loss and permanent hearing impairment
^aPermanent was defined as persisting 12 months after microvascular decompression. The clinical course of all patients with major complications are described in detail in Table 5. Additional minor or major complications derived from stroke are not represented in this table nor in Table 4 with minor complications
^bOne stroke patient had anaesthesia dolorosa as a sequalae after an infarct
^cAll patients who suffered a stroke had permanent ataxia
^dThree patients who suffered a stroke had permanent diplopia
^eTwo patients who suffered a stroke had corneal keratitis
^fOne patient who suffered a stroke had permanent and severe hypoesthesia
^gOne patient who suffered a stroke had permanent facial weakness

ISSN: 1129-2377