5% lidocaine medicated plaster double effect in a case of orofacial localized neuropathic pain

Abstract

Roberto Casale,1,2 Yuriy Romanenko,2,3 Massimo Allegri4–6 1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Pain Rehabilitation Unit, Foundation "Salvatore Maugeri", Research and Care Institute, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; 2EFIC Montescano Pain School, Montescano, Italy; 3Department of Neurology, Lugansk City Hospital 4, Lugansk, Ukraine; 4Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; 5Pain Therapy Service Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; 6SIMPAR group, Pavia, Italy Abstract: Localized neuropathic pain (LNP) is a type of neuropathic pain that is characterized by “consistent and limited area(s) of maximum pain associated with negative or positive sensory signs and/or spontaneous symptoms characteristic of neuropathic pain”. This definition encompasses a huge number of neuropathic orofacial pain syndromes. We present a case report of a patient who was affected with sleep apnea syndrome treated with nocturnal oxygen mask delivery, in whom orofacial LNP hampered the wearing of a mask due to unbearable burning and throbbing pain. The application of 5% lidocaine medicated plaster during the night led to an impressive reduction of both the pain level and the size of the painful area due to the plaster's pharmacological mechanisms, which were associated with a secondary benefit due to its mechanical protective action. This case report shows how these two factors could be of clinical value and have to be considered more systematically in the treatment of LNP in reducing pain and the size of the painful area. Keywords: trigeminal pain, localized neuropathic pain, topical treatment, 5% lidocaine medicated plaster