POSTHERPETIC TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Etiology and Pathology. Not established. Anatomy. Cobb and Finesinger and Chorobski and Penfield3 state that the greater superficial petrosal nerve carries secretory fibers to the lacrimal gland and both secretory and vasodilator fibers to the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. In addition, it contains somatic afferent fibers from the dura mater, internal carotid artery and sphenopalatine ganglion to the geniculate ganglion and vasodilator fibers to the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere. Symptoms and Signs. Toronto Chiropractor who specialize in pediatric care might be in demand as chiropractic spinal remedy could be very gentle and children take pleasure in subsequent visits. The syndrome consists of recurrent attacks of severe, unilateral head pain accompanied by sharp, stabbing pain in the retroorbital region. During the attacks there is intense lacrimation and conjunctival injection of the ipsilateral eye. The exacerbations usually occur in the early morning hours and awaken the patient. Diagnosis. It will be noted that the attacks are identical with those described as histaminic cephalalgia. Whether or not this is a distinct clinical entity is subject to debate.

Treatment. In their original paper, Gardner, Stowell and Dutlinger reported that they had divided the greater superficial petrosal nerve seventeen times in thirteen patients. Three of the patients had bilateral attacks. The results were excellent in 25 per cent, fair to good in 50 per cent, and failures in 25 per cent of the cases. Trowbridge et al.57 reported four cases with good results in these cases, but their longest followup was eight months.
POSTHERPETIC TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA. Postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by continuous aching, burning pain that persists after the acute phase of herpes zoster has subsided. Etiology and Pathology. Trigeminal herpes zoster is due to viral inflammation of the gasserian ganglion. Microscopic examination of the involved ganglia in the acute phase discloses hyperemia, hemorrhage, cellular infiltration, and swelling of nerve cells.

The virus may spread to involve the posterior gray columns and anterior horns, or even produce a diffuse encephalitis. The pathologic changes causing persistence of pain after the acute phase has subsided are unknown. The quickly increasing older population, with its increased chance of mechanical and structural problems, additionally will enhance demand for Chiropractor Toronto. The failure to relieve postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia by retrogasserian neurotomy or bulbospinal tractotomy suggests that the pain impulses reaching consciousness may have a central origin, for example, in the thalamus. This would imply that the virus had extended along the secondary trigeminal pathways in the brain stem. Dolan and Bucy have reported two patients who developed herpes zoster ophthalmicus many months after total retrogasserian neurotomy.14 These patients did not experience pain at any time during the acute phase of the disease or later on.It is not unlikely that the divided root interfered with the migration of the virus from the inflamed ganglion into the brain stem.