Facial Numbness and Paresthesias Resolved with Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Report of 3 Cases

JBJS Case Connect. 2019 Jul-Sep;9(3):e0294. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.18.00294.

Abstract

Case: We report 3 patients with classic trigeminal neuropathy (TN) findings, which were due to compressive cervical radiculopathy, and provide a brief anatomic explanation for this association. In each case, left-sided disk herniation between the C5 and C7 levels caused TN and classic (dermatome appropriate) cervical radicular findings, all of which resolved with anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF).

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of TN caused by radicular compression in the caudal subaxial (C5-C7) cervical spine, which resolved after ACDF.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Decompression, Surgical*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiculopathy / complications
  • Radiculopathy / surgery*
  • Spinal Fusion*
  • Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / etiology
  • Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / surgery*