Pain outcomes and safety in trigeminal neuralgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing percutaneous balloon compression with microvascular decompression.
Yu Liu, Xue-Jun Guo, Quan-Cai Wang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) versus microvascular decompression (MVD) in treating trigeminal neuralgia (TN) among 1284 patients. The study found that both treatments had similar short-term and long-term effective rates for pain relief, with odds ratios of 0.98 and 0.79, respectively. However, PBC was associated with a higher incidence of adverse reactions.
Key findings
- Short-term effective rates for MVD and PBC were similar (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.63-1.54).
- Long-term effective rates also showed no significant difference (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.56-1.10).
- Pain recurrence rates were comparable between MVD and PBC (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.88-2.08).
- PBC had a higher frequency of adverse reactions compared to MVD.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative safety and efficacy of PBC and MVD is crucial for clinicians managing trigeminal neuralgia, as it informs treatment decisions and patient counseling regarding potential outcomes and risks.
What to keep in mind
The study identified a high risk of confounding in the included studies, with most showing serious bias due to unadjusted baseline differences.