In one recent study, restoration of sensation in patients who underwent
nerve decompression for foot neuropathy was associated with a 3% ulceration recurrence rate, 80% improvement in pain, and 80% recovery of sensibility, with no new ulcers or amputations.
Overall, there was a positive trend demonstrating, over the course of 2 years, greater proportions of nerves having improved sensation after receiving
nerve decompression surgery (Table 2, Figure 1).
Visual outcome of tuberculum sellae meningiomas after extradural optic
nerve decompression.
They were removed with the fluid collection, and facial
nerve decompression of the tympanic segment was accomplished around the cyst.
Surgical
nerve decompression (ND), or neurolysis, has been used for several decades to relieve the ischemia and compression in leprous neuropathy.
The patient underwent decompression of suprascapular
nerve decompression at suprascapular notch.
The patient refused facial
nerve decompression surgery, and so he was treated with oral steroids.
Out of 103 patients, 55 were tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy, 16 were exploration of the middle ear for gradual or sudden hearing loss, 14 were ossiculoplasty for traumatic injury and 10 were facial
nerve decompression due to paralysis not respond to medical therapy, 8 were stapes surgery for otosclerosis.
In practice, surgical
nerve decompression (neurolysis) is reserved for treatment of nerve abscess and for patients who are unresponsive or have contraindications to corticosteroids.
Moreover, the ongoing controversy surrounding the effectiveness of facial
nerve decompression in Bell's palsy has left many otologists in limbo with respect to its use for this indication.
The study found an average nerve function improvement of 35% for ulnar
nerve decompression (n = 3), 32% for steroid treatment of 8 weeks (n = 3) and 8% median
nerve decompression (n = 3) 6 months after surgery or start of treatment.
1) Five years later, Pulec was the first to describe the use of this technique for total facial
nerve decompression.
