Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis: a status report

Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis remains controversial several years following the initial description. Changing etiologic concepts have led to confusion as well as the significant departures from the concept first defined by Ratner which served as the basis for the explaining the pain syndrome with features of trigeminal neuralgia. Since the earliest publications on the subject by Bouquot and colleagues there have been many challenges and counterclaims to the concept introduced, with a discussion of these included. Finally, absence of any form of research design and approval by institutional review panels remains a weakness in terms of acceptance of the information provided in the literature said to support the stated etiology of this entity.