Jho Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Spine Diseases
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Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia surgery: Dr. Jho's Endoscopic Microvascular Decompression Surgery, Glossopharyngeal Nerve Surgery

Dr. Jho's Microvascular Decompression of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve, Minimally Invasive Glossopharyngeal Nerve Surgery

Professor & Chair,  Department of Neuroendoscopy
Jho Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery   

     Having worked for approximately 20 years with Professor Jannetta (who pioneered the development of various Jannetta procedures for microvascular decompression), Dr. Jho has developed minimally invasive endoscopic microvascular decompression surgery for glossopharyngeal neuralgia and neurovascular compression syndromes of other cranial nerves.  Microvascular decompression surgery was originally pioneered by Professor Jannetta, who has spent his entire 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.

     A:         B:
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 : rcoret@DrJho.com
                                     Tel : (412) 359-6110
                                    Fax : (412) 359-8339
                  Address : JHO Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery
                                     Department of Neuroendoscopy
                                     7th Floor, Snyder Pavilion
                                     Allegheny General Hospital
                                     320 East North Avenue
                                     Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772                           
                         Contact Dr. Jho via e-mail  DrJho@DrJho.com   

                                 Copyright © 2002  by Mi-Ja  Jho, B.E., Hae-Dong Jho, M.D., Ph.D.
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