How I do it: re-do surgery for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND

When trigeminal neuralgia recurs after microvascular decompression surgery, re-operation may be indicated if trigeminal nerve compression remains. However, surgery for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia is more difficult because of adhesions between the prosthesis, such as the Teflon sling, and the surrounding structures, including the blood vessels, in addition to common post-open surgery adhesions.

METHOD: A case of a patient with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia is presented.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative evaluation of the compression of the trigeminal nerve is important. The pre-existing prosthesis does not necessarily need to be removed entirely.