Objective To explore the application effect of timing theory nursing intervention in microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal neuralgia．Methods The research period was from July 2020 to June 2023．The study subjects were 85 patients with trigeminal neuralgia selected from the Neurosurgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,all of whom underwent microvascular decompression surgery．They were divided into a control group（n=43,receiving routine care）and an observation group（n=42,receiving timing based nursing intervention on the basis of routine care）through odd and even number drawing．A preliminary assessment of pain,negative emotions,and quality of life for two groups of patients were conducted through a professional questionnaire．Results The scores of NRS,SDS and SAS in the observation group at discharge were（2.13±0.57）,（42.45±3.17）and（42.45±3.17）respectively,which were significantly lower than those in the control group（3.23±0.78）, （52.34±4.45）and（48.23±3.23）．The scores of physiological function,physiological function,physical function,vitality,social function,emotional function,mental health and general health status in the observation group one month after operation were（38.12±8.27）,（42.22±9.12）,（52.34±8.23）, （64.11±8.92）, （70.12±9.03）, （34.46±6.18）, （71.34±8.17） and（75.24±8.46）, which were significantly higher than those of the control group（35.23±8.13）, （38.56±9.23）, （45.03±8.11）, （60.57±8.23）, （65.23±8.78）, （30.14±6.13）, （66.23±8.08）and（72.12±8.35）（P<0.05）．Conclusions While implementing microvascular decompression surgery for patients with trigeminal neuralgia,nursing interventions based on timing theory can not only alleviate their pain,improve their negative emotions,but also comprehensively improve their quality of life．