Classic trigeminal neuralgia: a surgical perspective.

Classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) was described as early as the first century AD, when treatments ranged from bloodletting to the application of poison-laden bandages. Current medical treatment utilizes a variety of drug therapies. Surgery is reserved for those who are unable to tolerate the side effects or in situations in which the drugs prove to be ineffective. Surgical options include microvascular decompression, percutaneous balloon compression, radio-frequency thermocoagulation, and glycerol injection. Nurses play a critical role in the multidisciplinary care of patients undergoing surgical procedures for TN.