In-Hospital Management of Acute Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain Crises

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common form of craniofacial neuropathic pain with an incidence of 4 to 29 per 100,000 people per year. Acute trigeminal neuralgia pain crises are characterized by increased pain frequency and severity and can impact oral intake and sleep, as well as mood. The diagnosis of acute trigeminal neuralgia is clinical and supported by magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating morphological changes in the trigeminal neurovascular bundle on the ipsilateral side of the pain. Patients often present to the hospital seeking relief from acute exacerbations, making it essential for physicians to understand the management of an acute pain crisis, which differs from the chronic management, especially as there may be limited neurology or pain specialist support after hours. The need for improved knowledge of the treatment of acute trigeminal neuralgia is evidenced by opioids being the most prescribed analgesia despite little efficacy in treating it, a lack of evidence supporting their use and concerning side-effects. This article summarizes the evidence behind pharmacological therapy with fosphenytoin, phenytoin, and lidocaine as rescue medications in acute trigeminal neuralgia through the case of a male patient, age 58 years, who experienced complete resolution of pain following administration of phenytoin.