2025 Poster Presentations
P375: TROUSERS-SHAPED TEFLON FIBERS IN MICROVASCULAR DECOMPRESSION: TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
Mohammadmahdi Sabahi, MD, MPH1; Mohammad Samadian, MD2; Najma Ahmed3; Brandon Kaye4; Badih Adada, MD1; Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD1; 1Department of Neurological Surgery, Pauline Braathen Neurological Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3GKT School of Medical Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, UK.; 4Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, USA
Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) are debilitating facial pain and movement disorders, respectively, affecting thousands of people worldwide. Microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery is a widely accepted treatment, but its effectiveness is limited by the design of the Teflon implant used to decompress the affected nerve.
Objective: To introduce an innovative trousers-shaped Teflon fiber design for MVD, enhancing stability and reducing complications, and to evaluate its safety and efficacy in a proof-of-concept study.
Methods: Two patients, one with HFS and one with TN, underwent MVD using trousers-shaped Teflon fibers. The technique involves shaping Teflon fibers into a cylindrical form with an anchor point, providing stability and minimizing fiber shredding. The patients were followed up postoperatively to assess symptom relief and complications.
Results: Both patients experienced complete resolution of symptoms without neurological complications. The trousers-shaped Teflon design demonstrated improved stability and effectiveness in decompressing the affected nerve. The conventional Teflon implant design has limitations, including size and shape variability, leading to complications and recurrence. Our innovative design addresses these issues, providing a stable and effective solution. The trousers-shaped design enhances stability through a central anchor point, increasing the stability of the Teflon in place, and minimizes fiber shredding.
Conclusion: The trousers-shaped Teflon fiber design is a promising improvement in MVD technique, offering enhanced stability and potentially leading to improved surgical outcomes. Further studies are needed to ensure safety and efficacy across a larger patient population and to explore the long-term benefits of this innovative design.