A patient with typical trigeminal neuralgia involving the first branch of the nerve developed short-lasting unilateral attacks in the same area which were associated with severe vasomotor phenomena consistent with the recently described SUNCT syndrome. This evolution suggests that SUNCT might correspond, at least in this case, to a “transformed” trigeminal neuralgia and emphasizes the close relationship between these unilateral facial pain syndromes.
Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) involves pain isolated to the distribution of one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve following unintentional injury to that nerve. It is important to distinguish this facial pain syndrome from trigeminal neuralgia, as the treatment is quite different. The diagnosis is typically clinical, although local anesthetic blocks may aid in the diagnosis. Psychological testing is often performed preoperatively. Like other neuropathic pain syndromes, TNP may be treated with peripheral nerve stimulation. This chapter discusses a typical presentation of TNP, as well as the evaluation and management process, including placement of subcutaneous electrodes and connection to an internal pulse generator.
Abstract: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common pain syndromes encountered in a typical neurosurgical practice. The approach to these patients is nuanced, and is based on their overall health status, the characteristics of their pain, and the distribution of symptoms. This chapter describes the assessment of a healthy patient with trigeminal neuralgia and provides key differential diagnoses of this pain syndrome. The counseling of the patient regarding treatment options is also described. Finally, the chapter outlines the operative management of a healthy patient using a microvascular decompression (MVD), including surgical pearls and strategies for complication avoidance and management.
This chapter on neuropathic pain discusses the classification, clinical features, and evidence-based management of major neuropathic pain syndromes (painful polyneuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, HIV neuropathy, cancer neuropathic pain, phantom pain, traumatic neuropathic pain, chronic radiculopathy, central neuropathic pain, and trigeminal neuralgia).
Ganglionic local opioid analgesia (GLOA) describes the application of low-dose opioids close to sympathetic as, for example, to the superior cervical ganglion. GLOA can be effective in different pain syndromes affecting the head and face region and has been considered to be a safe technique with few complications reported so far. We present the case of a patient who received a single, transoral GLOA for a refractory trigeminal neuralgia. The patient subsequently developed an extensive epidural abscess at the craniocervical junction, requiring ultimately transoral odontoid resection and dorsal stabilisation. This severe complication challenges the role of transoral infiltration therapies in analgetic medicine.
Stereotactic Gamma Ray Radiosurgery to the Centromedian and Parafascicular Complex of the Thalamus for Trigeminal Neuralgia and Other Complex Pain Syndromes
