Nervus intermedius neuralgia: a case report

Nervus intermedius neuralgia (NIN) is an uncommon disorder that affects a sensory branch of the facial nerve. This condition usually provokes a very intense and stabbing pain localized in the depth of the ear canal. Due to the close anatomical proximity, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies should be included in the differential diagnosis. The treatment of NIN has not been established, although it seems reasonable that the therapeutic approaches used in other more common craniofacial neuralgias, such as trigeminal neuralgia, should be effective. In this paper, the authors present a case report of a female patient diagnosed with NIN who was successfully managed with pharmacological treatment.