title: Complex regional pain syndrome following trigeminal nerve injury: report of 2 cases.
abstract: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating neuropathic pain condition that has been extensively reported in the extremities following variable degrees of nerve trauma. CRPS has rarely been reported in the orofacial region. We report 2 orofacial pain patients whose clinical phenotypes fit the criteria for CRPS. Two cases of orofacial complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are described, both of which began following trigeminal nerve trauma. In case 1 the patient presented with redness of the ipsilateral ear during painful episodes, pain that extended into the ipsilateral arm and was associated with variations in the appearance of the ipsilateral hand. Symptoms also included "electric-burning pain" of the right side of the head, including the ear, teeth, jaw, eye, neck, and cheek. In case 2 the patient presented with intractable pain of the upper left face, head, and neck accompanied by color changes in the painful areas, which increased with exposure to cold.
authors.affiliation: Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, New Jersey Dental School, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Heir
authors.forename: Cibele
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nasri-Heir
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Bollamma P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Puchimada
authors.forename: Junad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eliav
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benoliel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*