Atypical Facial Pain: A Retrospective Study

Lee, Haeng Chul; Ahn, Jun Yong; Kim, Won Ok; Yoon, Duck Mi

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Among the most challenging patients seen for evaluation by a health care practitioner are those suffering from atypical facial pain syndrome. These patients have been subjected to extensive treatment, which had either no effect or has aggravated symptoms. This article reports a retrospective study of fifty-four cases of atypical facial pain that have been seen at our pain clinic. METHODS: The records of patients who were treated for atypical facial pain at our pain clinic over the period of January 2002 to December 2002 were examined. The study objective was to include 54 atypical facial pain syndrome patients classified according to the International Headache Society (IHS)'s atypical facial pain criteria. RESULTS: Of the fifty-four patients, 83.3% were women and 16.7% were men. Patients were aged between 18 to 73 years, and those in the 30 to 40-year category showed the peak incidence of atypical facial pain syndrome. Forty-four percent of the patients described their pain as right-sided, 37% as left-sided, and 19% as bilateral. 27 patients were treated with medications, nerve blocks, or both. Symptoms improved in 60% of the patients who received anticonvulsant medications. CONCLUSIONS: This study can be only a guide for the investigation and treatment of patients with the atypical facial pain.