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Table 4 Minor complications after microvascular decompression (n = 115)

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

Complication

N (%)

Lasting less than 12 months

N (%)

At 12-months follow-up

N (%)

At 24-months follow-up

Dizziness

5 (4)

4 (4)c

3 (3)

Tinnitus

1 (1)

4 (4)d

2 (2)

Tiredness

1 (1)

2 (2)e

1 (1)

Wound infection

3 (3)

0

0

Headache

6 (5)

5 (4)

3 (3)

Scar tissue pain

8 (7)

9 (8)

6 (5)

Transienta ataxia

7 (6)

NA

NA

Transienta diplopia

5 (4)

NA

NA

Permanentb mild hypoesthesia

NA

12 (10)f

7 (6)

Transienta mild hypoesthesia

6 (5)

NA

NA

Transienta severe hypoesthesia

0

NA

NA

Trigeminal motor weakness (masseter dysfunction)

2 (2)

2 (2)g

0

Transienta facial weakness

0

NA

NA

Transienta hearing loss

0

NA

NA

Transienta hearing impairment

6 (5)

NA

NA

Altered sense of taste

0

6 (5)h

6 (5)

  1. Values represent numbers of patients (%) unless otherwise indicated. Minor complications were dizziness, tinnitus, tiredness, wound infection, headache, scar tissue pain, transient ataxia, transient diplopia, permanent mild hypoestesia, transient mild hypoesthesia, transient severe hypoesthesia, trigeminal motor weakness, transient facial nerve palsy, transient hearing loss, transient hearing impairment and altered sense of taste
  2. aTransient was defined as lasting less than 12 months
  3. bPermanent was defined as persisting 12 months after microvascular decompression. NA: Not applicable as it is considered a major complication, see Table 3. 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 3 with major complications
  4. cThree patients who suffered a stroke had permanent dizziness which persisted at 24-months follow-up
  5. dOne patient who suffered a stroke had permanent tinnitus which had resolved at 24-months follow-up
  6. eOne patient who suffered a stroke had permanent tiredness which persisted at 24-months follow-up
  7. fTwo patients who suffered a stroke had permanent mild hypoesthesia which persisted at the 24-month follow-up
  8. gTwo stroke patients had permanent trigeminal motor weakness, which persisted at the 24-months follow-up
  9. hOne stroke patient had permanent altered sense of taste, which persisted at the 24-months follow-up