What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Anaesthesia Dolorosa
• Anesthesia Dolorosa

What is Painful Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy? (Definition/Background Information)

• The trigeminal nerve, or cranial nerve 5, is a highly complex bundle of nerves with both sensory and motor function. It is responsible for varied facial sensations and jaw muscle actions such as biting and chewing. The trigeminal nerve has three main branches/divisions, namely the ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve, and mandibular nerve
• Painful trigeminal neuropathy may be described as continuous to near-continuous pain, typically felt on one side of the face, from involvement of one or more trigeminal nerve branches. The variable intensity pain appears as a stinging (pins and needles) pain or burning pain and is generally non-triggered. Unlike trigeminal neuralgia, brief episodes of severe pain is not a common occurrence in painful trigeminal neuropathy
• Painful Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy is a form of painful trigeminal neuropathy caused by any traumatic event involving the trigeminal nerve. Such events may include any mechanical, chemical, thermal (radiation) related factors, or even surgical procedures to the trigeminal nerve region
• One-sided pain or pain involving both sides is known to develop within 6 months of the trauma. The pain may involve the face and/or the mouth. There may be other accompanying signs and symptoms apart from the pain noted such as due to nerve dysfunction

The criteria for diagnosis of Painful Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• History of an identifiable traumatic event1 to the trigeminal nerve(s), with clinically evident positive (hyperalgesia, allodynia) and/or negative (hypoesthesia, hypalgesia) signs of trigeminal nerve dysfunction
• Facial and/or oral pain in the distribution(s) of one or both trigeminal nerve(s) and fulfilling the criterion below
• Evidence of causation demonstrated by both of the following:
  • Pain is localized to the distribution(s) of the trigeminal nerve(s) affected by the traumatic event
  • Pain has developed less than 6 months after the traumatic event
• Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)