Recent surveys in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have shown that the incidence of TN is 26.8 and 28.9 per 100,000 people, respectively. The UK survey also showed a higher incidence in women, and the disease was most prevalent in those aged 45 to 59 years. The International Headache Society classifies TN into two main categories: classic TN (no clear cause other than vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve) and symptomatic TN (including trigeminal nerve compression caused by tumors, structural abnormalities or multiple sclerosis). Patients describe severe electric shock-like tingling pain that can be triggered during daily activities such as washing the face, brushing the teeth, and shaving. Carbamazepine is now considered the first-line treatment for TN; second-line treatment options include oxcarbazepine, but also lamotrigine or baclofen. If drug therapy fails, surgery is an option, which can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life. The two main types of surgical procedures currently available include ablation and microvascular decompression, but the former may result in nerve damage and sensory loss, while the latter carries a 0.2C0.5% risk of death and a 4% chance of ipsilateral hearing loss.