Two cases with glossopharyngeal neuralgia treated by nerve reaction: oropharyngeal approach

Two patients with idiopathic glossopharyngeal neuralgia received glossopharyngeal nerve resection by the oropharyngeal method, and their symptoms were relieved. Both patients had suffered proxysms of severe pain in the unilateral glossopharyngeal innervation for many years, and pharmaceutical treatment had been made in vain and, although surgical intervention in one patient had resulted in temporary relief, it had not been possible to prevent recurrence. As the identification of trigger zones by the method of local nerve block caused us to think that surgical treatment would be more effective in both patients, the glossopharyngeal nerve was resected, using the oropharyngeal method, with a view to attaining permanent symptomatic relief. Consequently, satisfactory results were obtained.