Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.5935/2595-0118.20200042
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Case Report

Photobiomodulation as an adjuvant in the pharmacological treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Case report

Fotobiomodulação como adjuvante no tratamento farmacológico da neuralgia trigeminal. Relato de caso

João Paulo Colesanti Tanganeli; Denise Sabbagh Haddad; Sandra Kalil Bussadori

http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2595-0118.20200042 BrJP, vol.3, n3, p.285-287, 2020
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Trigeminal Neuralgia causes intense suffering and impaired quality of life. The diagnosis is clinical. Thermography has been proven to be a useful tool, both for confirming and monitoring this neuralgia. Photobiomodulation is being increasingly well documented, specially when associated with the first-choice therapy, which is pharmacotherapy. In this case report, the objective was to investigate the performance of the laser, associated with anticonvulsants, in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia, considering its results from a clinical and thermographic point of view.

CASE REPORT: Male patient, 62 years old, presenting idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, diagnosed 4 years before, being controlled with oxcarbazepine (600mg), divided in 2 daily doses, being the dose doubled in the last year. In the last 4 months, the symptoms worsened with the increase in the drug dosage, generating side effects not supported by the patient. Photobiomodulation was proposed as a complementary treatment, with infrared thermography being performed before and after treatment. After the low-intensity laser therapy protocol, there was a significant improvement, demonstrated both by the patients report and the thermography, maintaining this result in the 6-month control. The dosage was reduced to 300 mg/day, restoring quality of life.

CONCLUSION: Low-intensity infrared laser photobiomodulation can be extremely useful when associated with an appropriate drug in the control of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, both in the immediate and medium-term outcome.

Keywords

Laser therapy, Thermography, Trigeminal Neuralgia

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A neuralgia trigeminal provoca intenso sofrimento e comprometimento da qualidade de vida. O diagnóstico é clínico. A termografia tem se mostrado uma ferramenta útil tanto para a confirmação quanto para o acompanhamento dessa neuralgia. A fotobiomodulação está cada vez mais bem documentada, em especial quando associada com a terapia de primeira escolha, que é a farmacoterapia. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a atuação do laser, associado a anticonvulsivante, em paciente com neuralgia trigeminal, considerando os seus resultados sob o ponto de vista clínico e termográfico.

RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 62 anos, portador de neuralgia trigeminal idiopática, diagnosticado há 4 anos, sendo controlado com oxcarbazepina (600mg), dividida em 2 doses diárias, sendo esta dose dobrada no último ano. Nos últimos quatro meses os sintomas se agravaram com o aumento da dose do fármaco, gerando efeitos adversos não suportados pelo paciente. Foi proposta a fotobiomodulação como tratamento complementar, sendo realizada a termografia infravermelha antes e depois do tratamento. Após o protocolo de laserterapia de baixa intensidade, houve melhora significativa, demonstrada tanto pelo relato do paciente quanto observado pela termografia, mantendo-se esse resultado no controle de seis meses. O fármaco foi reduzido para 300mg/dia, o que devolveu ao paciente a qualidade de vida.

CONCLUSÃO: A fotobiomodulação por laser de baixa intensidade infravermelho pode ser extremamente útil quando associada a um adequado fármaco no controle da neuralgia trigeminal idiopática, tanto no resultado imediato quanto a médio prazo.

Palavras-chave

Neuralgia do trigêmeo, Terapia a laser, Termografia

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Submitted date:
01/21/2020

Accepted date:
05/13/2020

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