A Case of Painful Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2020.00262
- Author:
Junho HWANG
1
;
Taehun LIM
;
Joon Bum JOO
;
Woo Hyun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2021;64(4):268-272
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTTN) is a distinctive facial pain syndrome characterized by facial and/or oral pain along the sensory distribution of the fifth cranial nerve with a clear history of a traumatic event. To our knowledge, PPTTN after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has not been reported in the literature. We present a case of an elderly woman who experienced unilateral neuralgic pain after undergoing ESS. Following ESS of the left sphenoid sinus to remove suspicious fungus balls, the patient complained of intermittent facial pain occurring in the left periorbital and forehead area. Clinical diagnosis of PPTTN was established after a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment. The pain disappeared completely after a 5-week medical treatment with gabapentin. Since PPTTN cases associated with ESS are extremely rare, our case demonstrates that PPTTN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of facial pain developing after ESS and can be successfully treated with medical therapy.
