title: Continuous neurophatic orofacial pain: A retrospective study of 23 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the clinical characteristics of Continuous Neuropathic Orofacial Pain in patients that suffer Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain (PIFP), Painful Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy (PPTTN) or Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) and to describe their treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study was made, reviewing the clinical history of the patients diagnosed with Continuous Neuropathic Orofacial Pain between 2004 and 2011 at the Orofacial Pain Unit of the Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology of the University of Barcelona and at the Orofacial Pain Unit of the Teknon Medical Center of Barcelona.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the patients with Continuous Neuropathic Orofacial Pain was 54.5, with a clear female predominance (86.9%, n=20). Of all patients, 60.9% (n=14) were suffering a PIFP, 21.7% (n=5) had a BMS and 17.4% (n=4) were presenting a PPTTN. The pain quality described by the patients with Continuous Neuropathic Orofacial Pain was oppressive (43.47%, n=10), widely represented by patients with PIFP, and burning (39.13%, n=9) being the only quality that described patients with BMS. The treatment carried out with the patients was only pharmacologic. The most used drugs for the treatment of PIFP and PPTTN were clonazepam (50%, n=9) and amitriptyline (44.44%, n=8). However, a 55.5% (n=10) of the patients with PIFP or PPTTN required the association of two or more drugs for a correct pain control. All the patients with BMS responded satisfactorily to clonazepam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous Neuropathic Orofacial Pain is a little known condition among the general population, physicians and dentists. This favors a late diagnosis and inaccurate treatments which entail unnecessary suffering. It is important to inform both the general population and health professionals concerning this painful condition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Continuous neuropathic orofacial pain, persistent idiopathic facial pain, painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy, burning mouth syndrome, atypical odontalgia.
authors.affiliation: DDS. Student of Oral Surgery and Implantology Department. School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dídac
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sotorra-Figuerola
authors.affiliation: DDS. Student of Oral Surgery and Implantology Department. School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Torres
authors.affiliation: DDS, MS, PhD, EBOS. Professor of Oral Surgery. Professor of Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona; Researcher of the IDIBELL Institute. Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valmaseda-Castellón
authors.affiliation: MD, DDS, MS, PhD, EBOS. Chairman and Full Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Director of the Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona; Researcher/Coordinator of the IDIBELL Institute; Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Teknon Medical Center. Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gay-Escoda