The Value of Gelfoam in Prevention of Recurrence Following Microvascular Decompression

Corresponding Author:

Jun Zhong, MD, PhD
Department of Neurosurgery, XinHua Hospital (The Cranial Nerve Disease Center of Shanghai)
Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine
Shanghai 200092, China
Tel: 021-25078021
Fax: 021-25078025

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngsal neuralgia account for the majority of cranial nerve hyperexcitability disorders. As
vascular compression of the cranial nerve root has been believed to be the etiology, microvascular decompression (MVD) has nowadays become
the most effective remedy for these disorders.

Trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngsal neuralgia account for the majority of cranial nerve hyperexcitability disorders [1]. As vascular compression of the cranial nerve root has been believed to be the etiology, microvascular decompression (MVD) has nowadays become the most effective remedy for these disorders [2]. Although about 90% of immediate postoperative cure might be achieved recently, a 6-30% of symptom recurrence has been reported [3]. The recurrence of those symptoms remains a challenge for neurosurgeons. The likelihood of recurrence is variable. There are many factors which can account for the recurrence following MVD, such as teflon granuloma formation, excessive teflon insert, improper and inadequate operative techniques, teflon adhesion and new vessels compression [4]. With experience of more than 10,000 MVDs [5], we believe that the adhesion of teflon felt is the main reason of the recurrence. Therefore, it should be the best if the neurovascular conflict could be separated without any external material insertion. Nevertheless, for most of the cases, it is the easy way to detach the offending vessel with soft telfon waddings. Accordingly, we suggest putting some moist gelatin sponges between the teflon felt and the nerve during the decompression procedure for those need teflon separation. (Figure 1). We think that placement of gelfoam between the nerve and the teflon has two functions: 1) as the size of gelatin sponge may enlarge more than 30 times in cerebrospinal fluid, it provides more rooms spontaneously between the teflon felt and the nerve, which make it easier to keep the offending vessel(s) away from the nerve; 2) as gelfoams are absorbed within four to six weeks, a clearance between the nerve and the teflon will be created, which avoids the teflon from adhering to the nerve and facilitates restoration of myelin sheath of the victim nerve root. With an incomplete statistical observation of our series, the relapse rate was approximately 4.7% in teflon-gelfoam group and 2.2% in teflon-alone group.

Acknowledgments

None

Funding

This work was supported by the China government under grant of National Natural Science Foundation (#81471317).

Conflicting Interest

None

References

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