Aim: To evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) and glossopharyngeal nerve roots rhizotomy（GNR）in the treatment of glossopgaryngeal neuralgia (GN).
Material and Methods:The data of 37 patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia undergoing MVD alone and MVD + GNR from July 2004 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.
Results:(1) Efficacy: In the 22 cases of MVD group, 19 cases were cured and 3 cases improved. In 15 cases of MVD + GNR group, 14 cases were cured and 1 case improved. There was no significant difference between the two groups (χ2 test, p> 0.05). (2) Complications: Postoperative complications in MVD group: 2 patients had short-term hoarseness and drinking cough, 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 1 case of intracranial infection, 1 case of ipsilateral hearing loss, and no deaths ; Postoperative complications in MVD + GNR group: permanent hoarseness in 2 cases, short-term drinking cough and hoarseness in 4 cases, ipsilateral facial paralysis in 1 case, 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, no intracranial infection and death. The incidence of postoperative hoarseness and drinking cough in MVD + GNR group was higher than that in MVD group (χ2 test, p＜0.05).
Conclusion:MVD alone was a safe and effective method for the treatment of primary glossopharyngeal neuralgia, the efficacy was equivalent to MVD + GNR, and had lower incidence of hoarseness and drinking cough.
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