Ewha Med J.  2018 Oct;41(4):82-85. 10.12771/emj.2018.41.4.82.

Postherpetic Neuralgia Aggravated by Upper Complete Denture

• Heo HJ
• Kim YY
• Lee JH
• Im SM
• Kim OH
• Lee HG

• KMID: 2423791
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2018.41.4.82

Abstract

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic and refractory pain disease. It requires longterm treatment and follow-up. Comorbid diseases can change or aggravate the pain condition and responsiveness of patients to PHN treatment. In such cases, the cause of pain should be identified through proper testing, and appropriate treatment should be administered. Herein, we report the case of a 67-year-old man with PHN in the maxillary nerve. As the pain was being controlled with medication and infraorbital nerve block, the patient experienced deterioration of pain caused by a newly worn upper complete denture. The patient's pain was relieved following correction of the upper complete denture.

Keyword

Denture, complete; Neuralgia, postherpetic; Trigeminal nerve

MeSH Terms

Aged
Denture, Complete*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Maxillary Nerve
Nerve Block
Neuralgia, Postherpetic*
Pain, Intractable
Trigeminal Nerve

Reference

1. Kost RG, Straus SE. Postherpetic neuralgia: pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention. N Engl J Med. 1996; 335:32–42.

2. Hackenberg RK, von den Driesch A, Konig DP. Lower back pain with sciatica disorder following L5 dermatome caused by herpes zoster infection. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2015; 7:6046.

3. Koda M, Mannoji C, Oikawa M, Murakami M, Okamoto Y, Kon T, et al. Herpes zoster sciatica mimicking lumbar canal stenosis: a case report. BMC Res Notes. 2015; 8:320.

4. Kang WS, Yoon DM, Ahn EK, Lee SL. A spinal cord tumor found in the patient with herpes zoster radiculopathy. Korean J Anesthesiol. 1996; 30:224–227.

5. Choi YM, Shin HY, Lee KJ, Koo MS, Nahm FS, Suh JH, et al. Compression fractures diagnosed during the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a case report. Korean J Pain. 2007; 20:224–229.

6. Choi JC, Bae HB, Jeong ST, Kim SJ, Jeong SW, Yoon MH, et al. Hypertrophic scar with chronic pain after acute herpes zoster: a case report. Korean J Pain. 2005; 18:229–231.

7. Ito N, Kimoto S, Kawai Y. Does wearing dentures change sensory nerve responses under the denture base. Gerodontology. 2014; 31:63–67.

8. Kimoto S, Ogura K, Feine JS, Sasai H, Yamaguchi H, Saito T, et al. Asymptomatic hypoesthesia of the maxillary alveolar ridge in complete denture wearers. J Oral Rehabil. 2008; 35:670–676.