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Geniculate neuralgia: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2014

I P Tang ,
S R Freeman ,
G Kontorinis ,
M Y Tang ,
S A Rutherford ,
A T King  and
S K W Lloyd
I P Tang*
Affiliation:
Department of ORL-HNS, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK Department of ORL-HNS, University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
S R Freeman
Affiliation:
Department of ORL-HNS, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
G Kontorinis
Affiliation:
Department of ORL-HNS, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
M Y Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
S A Rutherford
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
A T King
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
S K W Lloyd
Affiliation:
Department of ORL-HNS, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr I P Tang, Department of ORL-HNS, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester M5 5AP, UK E-mail: ingptang@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To systematically summarise the peer-reviewed literature relating to the aetiology, clinical presentation, investigation and treatment of geniculate neuralgia.

Data sources:

Articles published in English between 1932 and 2012, identified using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases.

Methods:

The search terms ‘geniculate neuralgia’, ‘nervus intermedius neuralgia’, ‘facial pain’, ‘otalgia’ and ‘neuralgia’ were used to identify relevant papers.

Results:

Fewer than 150 reported cases were published in English between 1932 and 2012. The aetiology of the condition remains unknown, and clinical presentation varies. Non-neuralgic causes of otalgia should always be excluded by a thorough clinical examination, audiological assessment and radiological investigations before making a diagnosis of geniculate neuralgia. Conservative medical treatment is always the first-line therapy. Surgical treatment should be offered if medical treatment fails. The two commonest surgical options are transection of the nervus intermedius, and microvascular decompression of the nerve at the nerve root entry zone of the brainstem. However, extracranial intratemporal division of the cutaneous branches of the facial nerve may offer a safer and similarly effective treatment.

Conclusion:

The response to medical treatment for this condition varies between individuals. The long-term outcomes of surgery remain unknown because of limited data.

Keywords

Geniculate NeuralgiaNervus Intermedius NeuralgiaNeuralgiaFacial NeuralgiaNeuropathic PainOtalgia
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 5 , May 2014 , pp. 394 - 399
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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