J Korean Pain Soc.  2003 Dec;16(2):209-211.

The Treatment of Geniculate Neuralgia by Continuous Stellate Ganglion Block: A case report

• Lee KH
• Yang SJ
• Kim WJ
• Kim HJ
• Lee BS

Abstract

Geniculate neuralgia is a very uncommon disease. However, patients diagnosed often exhibit severe intractable paroxysmal otalgia. This symptom is usually combined with tinnitus, hearing loss and facial palsy. The neuropathophysiological basis is currently unknown, but the pathological neural discharges are suggested to produce the sensation of pain. Neuropathic pain, including geniculate neuralgia, is also associated with the sympathetic nervous system. In the early phase of neuropathic pain, sympathetic hyperactivities commonly develop. A female patient, who had been suffering from geniculate neuralgia, visited our pain clinic. She had been suffering from otalgia for approximately 2 months, and was now showing signs of sympathetic hyperactivities. A continuous stellate ganglion block was performed for a week, which provided dramatic pain relief for at least 2 weeks. This seems to suggest that a continuous stellate ganglion block may be effective for pain relief in patients diagnosed with geniculate neuralgia, especially in its early phase.

Keyword

Continuous stellate ganglion block; Geniculate neuralgia

MeSH Terms

Earache
Facial Paralysis
Female
Hearing Loss
Herpes Zoster Oticus*
Humans
Neuralgia
Pain Clinics
Sensation
Stellate Ganglion*
Sympathetic Nervous System
Tinnitus