Comparison of endoscope, exoscope, and microscope visualization during microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia: a single-center experience of 135 surgeries.

Objective: Microscopic microvascular decompression (MVD) is an effective, long-lasting treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Endoscopic MVD has shown comparable outcomes while identifying neurovascular compression in up to 28% of cases otherwise missed with the microscope. The extracorporeal telescope (exoscope) represents the newest visualization technique available to neurosurgeons, offering enhanced ergonomics and trainee education. The authors compared their institution's experience with endoscope-, exoscope-, and microscope-assisted MVD for TN.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed all MVD procedures performed for primary TN at a single, tertiary care teaching hospital between 2016 and 2024, categorized by intraoperative visualization method. Cases were assessed for baseline demographics, intraoperative findings, surgical time, pre- and postoperative Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity scores, length of stay, and postoperative complications. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA for continuous variables and the chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables (p < 0.05), and any variables determined to be significant were subsequently evaluated using post hoc analysis.

Results: In total, 135 cases were included (27 endoscope, 54 exoscope, 54 microscope). Demographics and preoperative symptoms were similar among groups. Surgical time was significantly shorter with the endoscope (134.3 minutes) than with the exoscope (164.8 minutes, p = 0.01) and microscope (161.1 minutes, p = 0.03). Patients in the endoscope cohort were less likely to receive intraoperative neurolysis (p < 0.005) or experience intraoperative monitoring changes (p < 0.005). The offending compressive vessel was most commonly a venous structure (50%) and/or the superior cerebellar artery (49%). The endoscope and exoscope identified ≥ 2 compressive vessels (52% and 48%, respectively, vs 39%; p = 0.46) more often, with fewer instances of absence of vascular compression of the TN (4% and 6%, respectively, vs 13%; p = 0.35), than the microscope, although this failed to meet statistical significance. Fewer endoscope cases than exoscope and microscope cases experienced immediate pain relief (89% vs 98% and 100%, respectively; p < 0.001); however, there was no difference in postoperative BNI pain scores (p = 0.20) or change in BNI pain scores from preoperatively (p = 0.68). The rate of complications was lower with the endoscope and exoscope than with the microscope (4% and 2%, respectively, vs 15%; p = 0.04). CSF leak (7%) was the most common complication in the microscope cohort.

Conclusions: Clinical outcomes were equivalent among all visualization techniques. Surgical time was shorter with the endoscope. The endoscope and exoscope were associated with fewer postoperative complications than the microscope. The endoscope and exoscope identified ≥ 2 compressive vessels in 9%-13% more cases than the microscope, and an absence of vascular compression in 7%-9% fewer cases.