Trigeminal Neuralgia in the Presence of a Vascular Loop and Response to Medical Management: Experience From Saudi Arabia.

introductionTrigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neurovascular disorder characterized by severe, episodic facial pain, often attributed to vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve. The commonly reported artery responsible for compression is the superior cerebellar artery. Additionally, the anterior inferior cerebellar artery is also noted as a potential contributor to vascular loop compression. These vascular structures can lead to nerve root atrophy or displacement, which is significant in the pathophysiology of TN. While extensively studied globally, the specific characteristics of TN in the Saudi Arabian population remain underexplored. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the response to medical management in patients with TN and vascular loop compression.

methodsThe study was conducted at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from April to August 2023, and utilized a retrospective case series design to review medical reports of 13 patients diagnosed with TN and vascular loop compression. The primary objective was to evaluate the response to medical management in this specific patient population.

resultsIn this study, we included 13 patients with TN, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the patient population under study, encompassing demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, treatment responses, and other relevant variables. The mean age of the patients in the study is 48.23 years, with a standard deviation of 11.7, and a range from 30 to 71 years. The main findings of this study underscore the positive response to medical management in patients with TN and vascular loop compression. All patients in the study responded positively to the treatment, indicating a favorable overall response rate. The time to respond varied, with the majority responding within three months (46.16%), followed by those responding within 12 months (38.46%).

conclusionThis study highlights the potential efficacy of non-surgical approaches in managing the debilitating facial pain associated with TN. The positive outcomes observed in response to medical management emphasize the need for further exploration and validation of non-surgical approaches in the context of TN with vascular loop compression. This finding contributes to the global understanding of TN and offers promise for improving patient quality of life in Saudi Arabia.