Microsurgical Nuances in the Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a highly effective surgical treatment for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by arterial compression. In cases of TN without arterial compression of the nerve, however, a variety of other surgical treatments can be effective for pain relief including neurolysis, nerve section, and placement of a tentorial sling. In this chapter, the authors discuss the nuances of surgical interventions for TN outside of standard MVDs. They also explore recent innovations in MVD surgery for TN.