Does trigeminal neuralgia surgery require a craniotomy? Trigeminal neuralgia has become more frequent in recent years and has a tendency to become younger. It has caused great concern. After the traditional medication failed to have the maximum effect. People learned that the original trigeminal neuralgia can be treated surgically. But fears also came up – is the surgery invasive? Does it require a craniotomy? In surgery, the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is called microvascular decompression. Surgery for trigeminal neuralgia is currently the most respected treatment modality and is the only way to completely treat trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, it should be the preferred treatment route for patients. Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia: Microvascular decompression is a relatively safe operation, which is performed by magnifying the intracranial nerves and blood vessels through a high-powered microscope and then operating again, without damaging the nerves and blood vessels, placing spacers between the blood vessels and nerves, separating the mutually compressed nerves and blood vessels, relieving the local vascular compression while keeping the sensory conduction of the trigeminal nerve intact. In the vast majority of patients, the facial pain or spasm disappears immediately after surgery, and normal facial sensation and function are preserved without affecting the quality of life. The procedure takes about two hours. The procedure of microvascular decompression 1, anesthetized patients lying on the right side, draw a line in the hairline behind the breast, and routinely disinfect and lay a towel. 2.Cut the scalp and occipital muscle along the drawn line to expose the root of the left mastoid, and the nipple retractor to retract the soft tissue and stop the bleeding by electrocoagulation. One hole was drilled above the papillary root with an electric drill, and the occipital bone scale was milled with a milling knife. Place the bone fragments into the bone holes and perform layer-by-layer suturing. The surgery is finished. Does trigeminal nerve surgery require craniotomy? According to the above procedure, trigeminal nerve surgery requires craniotomy. However, patients should not worry too much about the trauma caused by the surgery. It is easy to see that although microvascular decompression is a craniotomy, it is different from the traditional large-scale craniotomy, with very little trauma, very little bleeding, very low recurrence rate after the surgery, and very good surgical results. No brain tissues are injured, etc. Most patients’ pain disappears immediately after surgery, and normal facial sensation and function are preserved, without affecting the quality of life. The surgery takes about 2 hours. Will it come back after surgery? Anyone familiar with trigeminal neuralgia knows that trigeminal neuralgia is a disease that can have recurrent attacks. Any surgery has the possibility of recurrence, and microvascular decompression is no exception. However, the recurrence rate is not high, and only a very small number of people have recurrence. The overall efficiency of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia is about 95%, and the recurrence rate is 2% to 5%, with reoperation being equally effective in between. It is the safest and most effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia internationally recognized. In conclusion: Trigeminal neuralgia surgery requires craniotomy, but it is a minimally invasive procedure without major trauma, and patients can choose it with confidence. The probability of recurrence is extremely low, and the patient can receive surgery again after recurrence, which is the most effective way to treat trigeminal neuralgia. Patients are advised to choose an experienced physician for treatment. To ensure the cure rate and safety of the surgery.