Pathogenesis (development of disease)
The pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia is probably compression or damage to the nerve before it enters the bridge. Most commonly, it is a compression caused by the superior cerebellar artery (approximately 80% of cases; less commonly, the inferior anterior cerebellar artery or a dilated basilar artery).
Etiologically (causally), trigeminal neuralgia is due to demyelination (demyelination) of the vulnerable nerve root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve, which favors the development of ectopic activity (outside the proper location).
Etiology (Causes)
Biographic causes
- Age – increasing age (idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia).
Behavioral causes
- Touching the face as when washing or brushing teeth.
- Cold
- Sneezing
Causes due to disease
- Glaucoma (glaucoma)
- Brain tumors (posterior fossa)
- Collagenoses (group of connective tissue diseases caused by autoimmune processes) – systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM), Sjögren’s syndrome (Sj), scleroderma (SSc) and Sharp syndrome (“mixed connective tissue disease”, MCTD).
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Nerve compression (pinching of the nerve).
- Nerve damage due to fractures (bone fractures).
- Sinusitis (sinusitis)
- Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus
- Dental diseases such as pulpitis (inflammation of the tooth root).
Operations
- Dysgnathia surgery – surgical rearrangement of the positional relationship of the jaws referred to. A distinction is made between the rearrangement of only one jaw – i.e., upper or lower jaw – and bignath rearrangement osteotomy, in which both jaws are operated on
- Extraction (removal) of a wisdom tooth.
- Tooth implantation
- Tumor resection; cyst removal
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisoning).
- Heavy metal intoxications
Further
- Endodontic procedures – treatment of diseases inside the teeth and related structures.
- Conduction anesthesia – procedure in which an injection of anesthetic (numbing agent) is made in the immediate vicinity of nerves
