Microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia, like other rhizopathies, has defied categorization, clarification in pathology and effective treatment, despite several efforts, in several disciplines. The different rhizopathies like trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, tinnitus, spasmodic torticollis, etc., all share a common pathology i.e, a vascular compression of the cranial nerve at the root entry zone. A comprehensive description of the features of trigeminal neuralgia and the surgical management with microvascular decompression is detailed in this article. Microvascular decompression is a relatively safe surgery and complications are very unlikely in dexterous hands.