xylocaine test as a prognostic aid for surgery in Sluder's neuralgia

ABSTRACT

Patients with facial pain without any overt disease especially of the nose and paranasal sinuses are often diagnosed as having Sluder's neuralgia. Large middle turbinates or septal deflections compressing the ethmoidal nerves have been regarded as one of the causes of this pain in those who have their sinus computed tomography [CT] clear. To evaluate the xylocaine test as a prognostic aid for surgical treatment for Sluder's neuralgia. Sixty-one cases were seen; all of them had the xylocaine test positive. They were treated surgically by endoscopic middle turbinectomy or septal surgery. All had relief from the symptoms 4 months postoperatively, except in five cases relief was achieved after revision surgeries for intranasal synechiae. The xylocaine [10 per cent] test seemed to be a good prognostic aid for the surgical procedures for those with Sluder's neuralgia when medical treatment did not seem to relieve the symptom