Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful condition in which the nerve that supplies sensation to the face (trigeminal nerve) misfires. As a result, the patient experiences frequent episodes of sharp, stabbing, electrical pain in the face. The pain episodes can be provoked by chewing, talking, or touching the face. Sometimes even air blowing on the face can provoke an attack. The condition can be extremely debilitating.

In most cases, trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with medications. Sometimes patients can not tolerate the medications because of side effects. In other cases, the response to medications diminishes with time. In these case, patients undergo surgery to treat trigeminal neuralgia. Once such operation is microvascular decompression of trigeminal nerve, featured here. Through a quarter-sized hole in the skull behind the ear, the trigeminal nerve is exposed at the depths of the brain. Often an artery is found pulsating against the nerve. The nerve and the artery are separated and a teflon cushion is placed between them.

Trigeminal nerve compressed by overlying superior cerebellar artery (SCA)

A piece if teflon mesh has been placed between the trigeminal nerve and SCA.