Kyung Hee University Hospital hits 1,000 MVD cases for trigeminal neuralgia

The Trigeminal Neuralgia Clinic, led by Professors Park Bong-jin and Park Chang-kyu of Kyung Hee University Hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery, announced Thursday that it has become the first in Korea to perform 1,000 microvascular decompression (MVD) procedures for trigeminal neuralgia.

Professor Park Bong-jin performs a microvascular decompression procedure. (Courtesy of Kyung Hee University Hospital)

Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain disorder caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which carries facial sensation. Intense pain—often described as electric shocks or stabbing pain—occurs in episodes lasting seconds to minutes during daily activities such as eating, brushing teeth, washing, talking, shaving, or applying makeup, earning its reputation as “the worst pain known.”

Treatment options include medication, nerve blocks, Gamma Knife radiosurgery, radiofrequency nerve therapy, alcohol injection, and surgery. Many patients prefer non-invasive options due to concerns about general anesthesia and brain surgery, but these approaches may have lower success rates or less durable outcomes.

Among these, microvascular decompression (MVD) is the standard treatment that addresses the root cause by separating the blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve and inserting a cushioning material called Teflon to prevent pulsations from being transmitted to the nerve. The procedure has a high surgical success rate and a low recurrence rate. It is a highly complex surgery performed within the narrow, deep anatomical structures of the pons, a critical region of the brain.

The Trigeminal Neuralgia Clinic at Kyung Hee University Hospital has reported strong outcomes, achieving a 94.7 percent surgical success rate while keeping postoperative complications below 3 percent, and has gained recognition both domestically and internationally.

“Many trigeminal neuralgia patients suffer without proper treatment. They are often misdiagnosed as having stress, toothache, or temporomandibular joint disorders and see various departments,” Professor Park Bong-jin said. “It is crucial to identify symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis. Using 3D MRI to pinpoint the compressing blood vessel before treatment is essential.”

He added, “Neuralgia is not an incurable disease that patients must simply endure. It can be treated with accurate diagnosis and surgery. We will not rest on our laurels after achieving 1,000 MVD procedures for trigeminal neuralgia and 5,000 overall. We will continue to strive to bring the joy of a complete cure to patients suffering from this condition.”