Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Recrudescing Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Chronicle of Orofacial Pain Before and After Cervical Cord Compression: A Case
Peter D Vu1,2, Jeremiah F Ling3, Michael V Nguyen1,2
1McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
Background:
Classic trigeminal neuralgia is a clinical condition with pathognomonic acute and sporadic episodes of pain. Atypical trigeminal neuralgia manifests more dull, constant, and chronic with occasional acute burning or stabbing pain as experienced in classic trigeminal neuralgia. There have been reports of trigeminal neuralgia developing after cervical insults, positing a cervical source of orofacial pain.
Case Report:
We report a patient with chronic, bilateral atypical trigeminal neuralgia symptoms due to a cervical cavernous malformation who underwent a C3-C6 laminectomy with cavernous malformation resection and had subsequent seroma-induced bilateral classic trigeminal neuralgia. Therapist-led cervical exercises improved his symptoms. His quality of life and function independence improved and his medications were titrated down.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, trigeminal neuralgia does not always present as classic paroxysmal, electrical pain and can occur from a cervical insult distal to the C2 spinal level.
Related Concept Videos
Angina II: Classification
Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Esophageal Achalasia
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications

