Clinical Assessment of Surgical Treatment of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes

Background: Neurovascular compression syndrome is a wide variety of clinical syndromes occurring due to the dysfunction of cranial nerves secondary to compression by a vascular loop. Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common example of this condition. Medical treatment, as carbamazepine, has been long prescribed to control such painful condition. Microvascular decompression operation represents a suitable option for many patients that failed to respond to conservative treatment or unable to be compliant to treatment. In this article, we investigate 20 different neurovascular compression presentations, surgical nuances and outcomes of microvascular decompression as well as providing the surgical, clinical and radiological methods dealing with two most challenging cases to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure. Abbreviations: CN: cranial nerves; GN: glossopharyngeal neuralgia; HFS: hemifacial spasm; NVCS: Neurovascular compression syndrome; MVD: Microvascular decompression; TN: trigeminal neuralgia.