Application of improved 3D digital guide plate-assisted guided puncture in microballoon compression for primary trigeminal neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and application value of an improved 3D-printed guide plate for the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) by percutaneous microballoon compression (PMC). Methods This prospective study included 42 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia treated at the Department of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, from September 2019 to January 2022. The group was divided by the random number table method into the experimental group (adopting 3D printing technology to make guide plates to guide the puncture, 22 cases) and the control group (adopting the traditional Hartel anterior approach to position the puncture, 20 cases). The intraoperative success rate of the first puncture, puncture time, operative time, radiation exposure of patients and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Postoperative Barrow Neurological Institute Scale (BNI) scores, facial numbness, diminished corneal reflexes and chewing weakness were recorded. The t-test, rank-sum test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis, with P0.05). In the experimental group, 16 patients had postoperative masseter weakness, 1 had keratitis and 10 had perilabial herpes, while in the control group, 18 patients had postoperative masseter weakness, 2 had keratitis, 11 had perilabial herpes and 1 had monocular blindness. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). At 12 months of follow-up, there was no recurrence in either the experimental or control group. Conclusions 3D digital guide plate-guided percutaneous microballoon compression for primary trigeminal neuralgia can improve the accuracy and safety of puncture to a certain extent, obviously shorten the operation time, reduce radiation exposure of the patients, improve the success rate of the operation, meaning it has a high clinical application value.

Keywords

• 3d printing technology .
• digital
• guide plate
• primary trigeminal neuralgia
• percutaneous microballoon compression
• precise location
• puncture
• foramen ovale
• facial numbness
• blindness