Minimally Invasive Trigeminal Ablation: Long Buccal Nerve

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Refractory neuropathic pain can significantly impact quality of life.
• Long buccal nerve neuropathy presents a challenging clinical scenario.
• Traditional treatments may fail to provide adequate relief.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel minimally invasive technique for trigeminal nerve ablation of the long buccal nerve.
• To evaluate the efficacy of this technique in a patient with refractory neuropathic pain.

Main Methods:

• A case study of a 44-year-old woman with refractory left long buccal nerve neuropathy.
• Surgical exploration revealed no structural nerve defects.
• Minimally invasive trigeminal nerve thermoablation of the long buccal nerve was performed.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced resolution of allodynia and hypersensitivity.
• Mild, temporary anesthesia along the nerve division was noted postoperatively.
• No further medical therapy or interventions were required.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive trigeminal nerve ablation of the long buccal nerve shows promise for treating refractory neuropathic pain without structural nerve defects.
• Further well-designed, long-term studies are necessary to establish its definitive role in clinical practice.