Trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: efficacy of stepwise decompression technique.

For TN caused by VBD, stepwise decompression not only reduces the direct compression of the trigeminal nerve by VBA but also allows identification and decompression of the actual vessels responsible for the compression. It has a good curative ratio, efficacy, and long-term pain relief rate, and it does not significantly increase the incidences of complications after surgery.