Introduction

: The most frequent pathology of the fifth cranial nerve is trigeminal neuralgia (TN), characterized by unilateral orofacial pain, of a paroxysmal nature, with distribution in one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of neurovascular decompressive surgery (NVD).

Methods

: Retrospective analytical study, patients operated on for NVD by TN (n: 155), from January 2006 - 2022, using a retrosigmoid approach and clinical-radiological follow-up, whose intraoperative recording was in 3D system (n: 42).

Results

: 83.3% (n=35) presented classic NT and 16.7% (n = 7) idiopathic. The right side prevailed with 59.5% (n = 25) and paroxysmal pain with 81% (n=34) of rep resentation in the entire series. Compression of arte rial origin represented 76.2% (n: 32) of the cases, the superior cerebellar artery represented the first cause of neurovascular compression (NVC) in 52.4% (n: 22) in the exit zone of the trigeminal nerve. The validity of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol selected for this series was analyzed; evidencing a high sensitivity of MRI with 97%, and a specificity of 86%.

Conclusion

: The sensitivity and specificity of high-definition MRI studies and with special protocols for the evaluation of TN, as gold standard paraclinical, were presented. The DNV offered safe results, a high percent age of the patients were described as successful. The 3D recording allowed retrospective analysis with a vision identical to that of the surgeon during the intraoperative period, the type of NVC.