Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Dr. Jho's Endoscopic MVD Surgery, Minimally Invasive Glossopharyngeal Nerve surgery

Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Dr. Jho's Endoscopic MVD Surgery, Minimally Invasive Glossopharyngeal Nerve surgery

Dr. Jho's Microvascular Decompression of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Professor & Chair, Department of Neuroendoscopy

Jho Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

After working for approximately 20 years with Professor Jannetta (who pioneered the development of various Jannetta procedures for microvascular decompression), Dr. Jho developed minimally invasive endoscopic microvascular decompression surgery. Microvascular decompression surgery was originally pioneered by Professor Jannetta, who has spent his lifetime in a neurosurgery career exploring various neurovascular compression syndromes.

Microvascular decompression is a surgical treatment for cranial nerve disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, vertigo, tinnitus, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and spasmodic torticollis. Microvascular decompression (which consists of placement of small synthetic sponges between the compressing blood vessels and the affected cranial nerves) carries a good chance of relieving the symptoms associated with these disorders.

Discussion

When blood vessels cross and compress cranial nerves, various characteristic symptoms develop depending upon which cranial nerves are compressed. Trigeminal neuralgia develops by blood vessel compression of the trigeminal nerve, hemifacial spasm by compression of the facial nerve, intractable positional vertigo by compression of the vestibular nerve, tinnitus by compression of the cochlear nerve, glossopharyngeal neuralgia by compression on the glossopharyngeal nerve, and spasmodic torticollis by pressure on the spinal accessory nerve and upper cervical nerves. Cranial nerve surgery is done through a small skull opening behind the ear and is referred to as retromastoid craniectomy. Skin incisions are usually only two inches in length.

Figure 1. An arterial loop (PICA) is progressively decompressed with Teflon placement in a patient with glossopharyngeal neuralgia (A). Teflon placement can be seen at the completion of microvascular decompression of the ninth and tenth cranial nerves (B).

For referral information or appointment for consultation contact:

Practice Manager: Robin A. Coret

e-mail : Drjho@ahn.org

Tel : (412) 359-6110

Fax : (412) 359-8339

Address : JHO Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Department of Neuroendoscopy

Sixth Floor, South Tower

Allegheny General Hospital

320 East North Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772

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Dr. Jho via e-mail Drjho@ahn.org