Efficacy Comparison of Microvascular Decompression and Rhizotomy in the Treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Analysis of 37 Cases

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) and glossopharyngealnerve roots rhizotomy (GNR) in the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN).MATERIAL and METHODS: The data of 37 patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia undergoing MVD alone and MVD + GNR fromJuly 2004 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: Efficacy: In the 22 cases of the MVD group, 19 cases were cured and 3 cases were improved. In the 15 cases of the MVD+ GNR group, 14 cases were cured and 1 case improved. There was no significant difference between the two groups (chi-squaretest, p>0.05). Complications: Postoperative complications in the MVD group: 2 patients had short-term hoarseness and drinkingcough, 1 case had cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 1 case had intracranial infection, and 1 case had ipsilateral hearing loss, with nodeaths. Postoperative complications in the MVD + GNR group: permanent hoarseness in 2 cases, short-term drinking cough andhoarseness in 4 cases, ipsilateral facial paralysis in 1 case, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 case, with no intracranial infectionor death. The incidence of postoperative hoarseness and drinking cough in the MVD + GNR group was higher than that in the MVDgroup (chi-square test, p