Utility of real-time ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block in trigeminal neuralgia

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is one of the most painful conditions occurring in the face. It causes sudden, severe, unilateral, sharp, stabbing, or burning pain along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Antiepileptic and analgesic medications are the primary choices of therapy. Peripheral trigeminal nerve block is a beneficial treatment option during the acute paroxysmal period of TN in patients who have contraindications or are refractory to pharmacological management. TN at V2 (maxillary) area is reported to account for 37.8% of all TN cases, and 80% of TN at V2 can be treated with infraorbital nerve block. Ultrasound imaging is helpful in localizing the infraorbital foramina for giving superficial trigeminal nerve block. In this case series, we performed real-time ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block which is a branch of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve. All patients had satisfactory pain relief.

Keywords

• Infraorbital nerve block
• trigeminal neuralgia
• ultrasound-guided nerve block