Trigeminal Neuralgia Involving All Three Branches Of Trigeminal Nerve Treated By Peripheral Neurectomy: An Interesting Case Report

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia is a well known facial pain syndrome characterized by excruciating, paroxysmal, shock like pain attacks located in the somatosensory distribution of the trigeminal nerve. It occurs in both genders (with a slight female predominance), and the diagnosis is most common over age 50. Treatment options are varied for this condition ranging from medical therapy to invasive surgical procedures. No treatment modality to date is totally recurrence free. Peripheral neurectomy is one of the oldest surgical modalities which is least invasive and with few complications. We present an interesting case of a 53 year old male patient with trigeminal neuralgia simultaneously involving all the three branches ipsilaterally. Following neurectomy of all the three involved branches, the patient was free of recurrence in a five year follow – up period.