Burning mouth syndrome: concurrent use of trigeminal and sphenopalatine rhizotomy

Authors

Keywords:

Treatment, Trigeminal nerve, neuropatic pain

Abstract

Introduction: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is neuropathic pain resulting from injury or pathology affecting the peripheral or central somatosensory system. Its symptoms include intraoral burning, and it is important to rule out other conditions with similar manifestations. This pain may be localized to the tongue or its tip and may be related to dysesthesia, taste dysfunction, and the sensation of dry mouth. It can be episodic or continuous with variable duration, typically resembling an electric shock in the former case and a burning sensation in the latter. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women, and studies suggest that sensory neuropathy of the small fibers of the trigeminal nerve - ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2) and mandibular (V3) - is implicated in BMS.

Objectives: To demonstrate the effectiveness of treatment with trigeminal rhizotomy in the V2 and V3 territories combined with sphenopalatine ganglion block in reducing chronic neuropathic pain in the oral cavity.

Case Report: Female patient, 55 years old, presented with a history of burning pain in the tongue and oral mucosa for two years. The pain occurred daily, lasting approximately 6 to 8 hours, without significant improvement with any medication. Clinical examination revealed no changes in the oral cavity. The patient underwent trigeminal rhizotomy in the V2 and V3 territories and sphenopalatine ganglion block, resulting in a 70% improvement in pain and an improvement in quality of life, which was maintained during six months of follow-up.

Conclusion: The combination of trigeminal rhizotomy in the V2 and V3 territories concurrently with sphenopalatine ganglion block appears to be effective in reducing chronic neuropathic pain in the oral cavity. Once other diseases of the oral mucosa related to mouth pain have been excluded and BMS has been diagnosed, the implemented therapy proves to be an effective approach in treating these patients refractory to drug treatment. 

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Author Biography

Franklin Reis, HOSPITAL SOS CARDIO

Holds a degree in Medicine from the Federal University of Amazonas (2004)./ Neurosurgeon at HUGV - Federal University of Amazonas: RQE: 3092./ Specialist in Pain from the Faculty of Medicine at USP./ Title in Pain Management from the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB): RQE: 4527/ Approved in FIPP (Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice), title from the World Institute of Pain (WIP). Creator of the Institutional Pain Protocol at the Adventist Hospital of Manaus with International Level Accreditation/ Professor at the Federal University of Amazonas in the subjects: Neurology/Neurosurgery and the elective course: Fundamentals of Pain Teaching/ Member of the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED)/ Member of the Brazilian Society of Interventional Pain Medicine/ Member of the Brazilian Academy of Neurosurgery. Proficiency in English for Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Studies - Doctorate FMUSP-SP. Professor at Sinpain College. Currently a Neurosurgeon at: 1. SOS Cardio; 2. Neuron Dor; 3. Ultralitho. All in Florianópolis

References

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Published

2024-08-15

How to Cite

1.
Lagoa LB, Silva GC da, Lima G de A, Souza PLB, Reis F. Burning mouth syndrome: concurrent use of trigeminal and sphenopalatine rhizotomy. Headache Med [Internet]. 2024 Aug. 15 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];15(Supplement):11. Available from: https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/1081

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