Trigeminal Neuralgia

Table of Contents

  1. Disorder
  2. Epidemiology
  3. Risk Factors & Associations
  4. Etiology
  5. Signs & Symptoms
  6. Diagnostic Criteria
  7. Diagnostic Workup
  8. Treatment
  9. Prognosis
  10. References
A facial pain disorder characterized by brief, unilateral, recurrent, paroxysms of shooting/electrical-shock like pain in the distribution of one or two divisions of the trigeminal nerve precipitated by innocuous stimuli.

Disorder

- MEDIAN AGE OF ONSET: 52 - 58yo (idiopathic forms), 30 - 35yo (symptomatic forms)
- F:M RATIO: 3:2

Epidemiology

Risk factors & Associations

- Can be preceded or accompanied by hemi-facial spasm, which may indicate a tumor (cholesteatoma), basilar artery aneurysmal dilatation or AVM compressing the trigeminal and facial nerves

Etiology

- Idiopathic
- Vascular Compression
- CNS Demyelinating disorders (ex. Multiple Sclerosis)
- Trauma

Signs & Symptoms

- Unilateral, paroxysmal facial pain
- Typically involves V2 and V3
- Often without sensory or motor deficit
- Often associated with a facial trigger point

Diagnostic Criteria 

(Adapted from ICHD-3 Diagnostic Criteria for Trigeminal Neuralgia)

- Recurrent paroxysms of unilateral facial pain in the distribution of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve
- Pain is (1) severe in intensity, (2) electric shock-like, sharp, shooting or stabbing, (3) duration is brief, lasting less than 1 second to 2 minutes
- Precipitated by innocuous stimuli within the affected trigeminal distribution

Must meet these three criteria for diagnosis

Diagnostic Workup

Coming Soon

Treatment

Coming Soon

Prognosis

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References

Coming soon