Therapeutic and analgesic efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) in the management of trigeminal neuralgia: a case report

The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic and analgesic effect of PBMT in management of trigeminal neuralgia.

A 42-year-old female patient was chosen for this study. She experienced severe, unilateral, electrical-like pain episodes originating from specific points on the right side of her face, including the zygomatic region, infraorbital area, lateral side of the nose, and the upper right portion of the upper lip. The pain episodes were typically triggered by specific activities, such as speaking or washing her face. The procedure utilized photobiomodulation therapy with an EPIC X 940 nm diode laser. The laser settings included a power of 4 W, laser beam diameter of 3 cm, spot size of approximately 7.07 cm², power density of 0.5 W/cm², continuous wave (CW) emission mode, and an exposure time of 30 s for each trigger point. The energy density was approximately 16.97 J/cm² per trigger point. Treatment sessions were conducted three times per week, with a total of 12 sessions. As for the points of application, laser irradiation was administered to each trigger area along the course of the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The results obtained from the study show a significant reduction in VAS after 12 sessions and after a period of 6 and 12 months postoperatively following PBMT.

According to the results obtained from the case report, PBMT was effective in reducing pain in patients with idiopathic TN and could be considered an adjunctive method to pharmacotherapy, offering more satisfactory results without adverse effects. To achieve the maximum therapeutic effect using PBMT, correct diagnosis and proper knowledge of laser-tissue interaction are essential.