Introduction: Recalcitrant trigeminal neuralgia following surgical treatment can be a life-altering
condition. To explore alternative anatomic reasons for such a complication, the potential
for nerve connections between the sensory and motor roots (Wrisberg’s anastomosis)
of the trigeminal nerve at the opening of Meckel’s cave were examined.
Materials and Methods: In 15 adult, embalmed cadavers (30 sides), microdissection was performed of the skull
base and specifically at the opening of Meckel’s cave (porus trigeminus).
Results: Two sides (2.67%) were found to have interneural connections between the sensory
and motor roots at Meckel’s cave. These occurred in one male and one female cadaver,
both on right sides. Both connections were histologically verified to be neural and
were 0.5 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm and 2 mm in length, respectively. Both connections
traveled in an oblique fashion from the portio major proximally to the portio minor
distally.
Conclusions: Based on our findings, the sensory and motor components of the trigeminal nerve at
Meckel’s cave may be interconnected with neural tissue. Such findings may be of use
during the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.
