Microvascular decompression

Microvascular Decompression is a neurosurgical procedure used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. It was pioneered by Dr. Peter Jannetta in the 1960s.

In 1934, Walter Dandy theorized that trigeminal neuralgia is caused by a blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve. In order to treat this, a hole about the size of a half dollar is cut into the skull, and the dura mater is moved aside. The offending blood vessels are moved off of the trigeminal nerve and a piece of teflon is placed between the vessel and the nerve.