Animation microvascular decompression surgery

Design of 3D animated sequences for an info-film on microvascular decompression surgery on a patient with trigeminal neuralgia.

Background

Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, severe facial pain. This pain is usually one-sided and lasts only a few seconds, but can occur several times a day.

One possible cause of trigeminal neuralgia can be a neurovascular conflict of the trigeminal nerve. In this case, a blood vessel, usually an artery, compresses the trigeminal nerve and irritates it.

Animated 3D sequences on microvascular decompression surgery
Rights of use of the visual material: Inselspital Bern
Music: Kevin McLeod – Impact prelude – License: Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Project description

For a patient information film at the Inselspital Bern, we created 3D animated sequences for the treatment of a neurovascular conflict of the trigeminal nerve. The animated scenes were integrated into a larger information film with an interviews with a neurosurgeon and visualized the disease and the procedure to give the patient a better understanding of the procedure.

The first part of the animation shows a transparent head of a patient with trigeminal neuralgia. As the camera moves to the skull, the cause of the neuralgia becomes visible: an artery is in direct contact with the trigeminal nerve. The pulsation of the blood vessel irritates the nerve and triggers the sensation of pain.

irritation-trigeminal-nerve
Compression trigeminal nerve

The second part of the animation shows the procedure. A small skin incision is made at the back of the head and a small part of the skull is removed to get access to the nerve. Using a microscope, the point of contact between the blood vessel and the nerve is exposed and a piece of Teflon is installed between the two to prevent direct contact and thus irritation.

teflon-between-nerve-and-vessel
Microvascular decompression – Teflon between nerve and vessel

Project details animation microvascular decompression surgery

Content: Animated 3D sequences

Use: Information film for patient for use on website or doctor-patient consultations

Specs: Full-HD, 1:00 Min.

Client: Inselspital Bern, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Dr. Andreas Nowacki

The rights of use of the images + video shown here are held by the client; use is not permitted. Images and video are protected by watermarks.

Screenshots animation microvascular decompression

mobilization-vessel
Mobilization vessel

-> Link to the video page “Animation microvascular decompression surgery”

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