Use of gabapentine (neurantin) for relief of intractable pain developed after face-lift surgery.
Complications of rhytidectomy, technically one of the most challenging operations of the aesthetic surgery, have been widely reported in the literature and nerve injuries are one of these possible complications during facial rejuvenation surgery. Beside the injuries of motor branches of the facial nerve, complaints of numbness and development of neuromas due to sensorial nerve injuries were reported in the literature. In this particular reported case, however, complaints of a 52-year-old woman, presented with diffuse intractable pain in her left cheek radiating to the neck and behind the ear after facial rejuvenation surgery, improved dramatically by use of gabapentine. Although there was no apparent neuroma formation on her neck, MRI findings are inconclusive and she had not responded to injection of local anesthetics at all.
Canter
Halil I
HI
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. hicanter@gmail.com
Yilmaz
Berkhan
B
Gurunluoglu
Rafi
R
Algan
Halil
H
D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015361:Rhytidoplasty; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin