Typical or Atypical Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome in Delayed Facial Palsy After Stapedectomy?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define the typical pattern for varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in delayed facial palsy (DFP) after stapedectomy for otosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the relevant literature, personal casistics, and case-report. RESULTS: In total, 48 cases of DFP after stapes surgery have been described so far, including the reported case with exclusive manifestation of atypical Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RH); in the personal series of 1253 stapedectomies, DFP occurred in only one case (0.08%). Complete DFP (House-Brackmann grade VI) rapidly developed 12 days after surgery; RH appeared 2 days later, confirming the role of VZV. The DFP started improving after 8 weeks and completely recovered 6 months later. CONCLUSION: Acute otalgia prior to DFP should raise the suspicion of VZV reactivation. Atypical RH is the most frequent pattern that occurs in DFP after stapedectomy.

Facial palsy after dental procedures - Is viral reactivation responsible?

OBJECTIVES: Herpes labialis viral reactivation has been reported following dental procedures, but the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of delayed peripheral facial nerve palsy following dental work is poorly understood. Herein we describe the unique features of delayed facial paresis following dental procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional retrospective review was performed to identify patients diagnosed with delayed facial nerve palsy within 30 days of dental manipulation. Demographics, prodromal signs and symptoms, initial medical treatment and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Of 2471 patients with facial palsy, 16 (0.7%) had delayed facial paresis following ipsilateral dental procedures. Average age at presentation was 44 yrs and 56% (9/16) were female. Clinical evaluation was consistent with Bell's palsy in 14 (88%) and Ramsay-Hunt syndrome in 2 patients (12%). Patients developed facial paresis an average of 3.9 days after the dental procedure, with all individuals developing a flaccid paralysis (House Brackmann (HB) grade VI) during the acute stage. 50% of patients developed persistent facial palsy in the form of non-flaccid facial paralysis (HBIII-IV). CONCLUSION: Facial palsy, like herpes labialis, can occur in the days following dental procedures and may also be related to viral reactivation. In this small cohort, long-term facial outcomes appear worse than for spontaneous Bell's palsy.

Geniculate neuralgia: a systematic review.

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.

Atypic geniculate neuralgia: atypic anatomic correlation of cranial nerve roots and AICA.

Geniculate neuralgia is a rare cause of craniofacial pains. The anterior inferior cerebellar artery is the offending vessel which compress nervus intermedius in the patients with typical geniculate neuralgia. We report a patient whose pain was atypical for either geniculate neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. At operation the anterior inferior cerebellar artery was coursing with the nerves and was separated. After the decompression the pain resolved immediately.

[Craniofacial neuralgias]. / Kraniofacijalne neuralgije.

Craniofacial neuralgias are characterized by sudden paroxysmal pain along the distribution of one or more of the cranial or upper cervical spinal nerves. The most significant neuralgia of the craniofacial region is trigeminal neuralgia, while geniculate neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia and occipital neuralgia are less common. Trigeminal neuralgia may be primary or secondary. Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux has been recognized for centuries as an extremely painful disorder most commonly involving the maxillary nerve. Recurrent lancinating, shocklike unilateral pain lasting for seconds to minutes is provoked by non noxious stimulation of the skin at specific sites around the face and less frequently by movement of the tongue. The trigger zones are usually within the same dermatome as the painful sensation. After each episode, there is usually a refractive period during which stimulation of the trigger zone will not induce pain. Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia occurs somewhat more frequently in women and usually begins in individuals 50 to 70 years of age. There is no pain between attacks, and the frequency of painful episodes can range from several per day to only a few per year. With time, the features may become more atypical, with greater areas of more enduring and dull pain and occasionally bilateral pain, rarely on both sides simultaneously. No sensory or reflex deficit is detectable by routine neurologic testing. Diagnostic local anesthetic blocks will identify the specific nerves involved and the trigger point distribution. Neurologic and neuroradiologic examination is advised in all cases to rule out diseases such as intracranical tumors, vascular malformations or multiple sclerosis.

Postoperative Ramsay-Hunt syndrome after acoustic neuroma resection. Viral reactivation.

The aim of this paper is to present a patient suffering from acoustic neuroma and operated on with immediate postoperative hearing and facial function preservation who developed delayed Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case in whom a postoperative delayed facial palsy and hearing loss occurred. The patient gave an history of previously diagnosed herpes zoster reactivation limited to chest one-year before. This is undoubtdetly a predisposing factor for development of delayed facial palsy. It must not be underestimated and it obliges to consider a prophylaxis. Theoretically, the prophylactic antiviral therapy might prevent the evolution towards the herpes zoster oticus or reduce the severity of the symptoms allowing the preservation of the hearing function. It would be pointed out that the delayed facial plasy has favourable prognosis, while the hearing impairment may recover with a greater difficulty even after an antiviral treatment as in our case.

Herpes zoster oticus following mandibular block.

Although a few cases of facial palsy following mandibular nerve block and dental surgery have been described, it would appear that herpes zoster oticus following dental surgery has not been documented. It is possible that the latent virus may be activated by the mandibular nerve block and dental surgical interventions. Two cases of herpes zoster oticus, both following inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia for dental treatment are presented.