Painful Post-traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy Improved with Seungmagalgeun-tang-gamibang and Acupuncture: A Case Report

Objectives: Painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTTN) is a chronic neuropathic facial pain condition that occurs after trigeminal nerve injury. This study aimed to report the clinical outcomes of Korean medicine treatment including Seungmagalgeun-tang-gamibang and acupuncture in a patient with PPTTN following dental implant surgery.Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a patient diagnosed with PPTTN who was treated at a Korean medicine clinic. The patient received a Seungmagalgeun-tang-gamibang herbal prescription and acupuncture once weekly during the treatment period. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Clinical progress was assessed through patient interviews, functional observations including eating and lip movement, and changes in pain distribution.Results: At the initial visit, the patient reported severe pain in the right lower lip and mandibular region with an NRS score of 10. During treatment, pain gradually decreased to NRS 2-3 during the mid-treatment period and improved to NRS 1 at the final follow-up visit. Functional improvements were observed, including increased food intake, improved lip movement, and recovery of daily activities. The pain distribution also progressively decreased from the mandibular region to a small localized area of the lower lip.Conclusions: This case suggests that Korean medicine treatment including Seungmagalgeun-tang-gamibang and acupuncture may contribute to symptom improvement in patients with PPTTN.