Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia in the elderly: efficacy and safety.

Despite a higher prevalence of comorbidities in elderly patients, complication rates and neurological deficits after MVD were comparable to younger patients. Rates of immediate and long-term pain relief compared favorably to previous studies and were similar between elderly and younger patients. These data endorse MVD as a safe and effective first-line surgical procedure for elderly patients with TN and neurovascular conflict on MRI.