Objective To explore the application effectiveness of the modified incision of the retrosigmoid approach in microvascular decompression(MVD).Methods The clinical data of 419 patients with cranial nerve diseases treated with MVD from January 2018 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,227 patients treated with MVD through traditional retrosigmoid approach from January 2018 to April 2019 were served as the control group,and 192 patients treated with MVD through modified incision retrosigmoid approach from April 2019 to June 2020 were served as the modified group.Postoperative follow-up was conducted until June 2022.Results In the control group:the positioning time of was(15.26±3.17)min;the operation time was(103.98±8.63)min;the total effective rate was 97.3%;the total postoperative complication rate was 3.5%.In the modified group:the positioning time was(5.40±2.04)min;the operation time was(91.93±7.11)min;the total effective rate was 97.9%;the total postoperative complication rate was 2.1%.There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups(P>0.05),but the positioning time and operation time of the modified group were significantly shortened(P<0.05),and the postoperative complication rate of the modified group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion The modified incision retrosigmoid approach in MVD for cranial nerve diseases has a good therapeutic effect.It saves the positioning time,shortens the operation time,and has mild cerebellar traction during the operation and good protection of the occipital artery,with a low incidence of postoperative complications.