Search

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common disease of the fifth cranial nerve. This study aimed at evaluating the epidemiology of patients with the trigeminal neuralgia referred to Imam Clinic in Hamedan City, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 40 patients with trigeminal neuralgia symptoms were studied. Diagnosis of patients was made based on the history, physical examination and paraclinical tests. Results: This study was conducted on 27 (67.5%) females and 13 (32.5%) males with the mean ages of 43.3±16.9 and 51.7±21.5 years, respectively (P=0.526).The incidence of this disease was higher among young women than others. The right side involvement was detected in 47.5%, left side involvement in 40% and bilateral involvement in 12.5% of the cases. Regarding the engaged nerve branch, simultaneous engagement of maxillary and mandibular nerves was seen in 47.5%, mandibular in 27.5%, maxillary in 20%, and ophthalmic in 5% of the individuals. The primary causes were seen in 42.5% and secondary causes in 57.5% of the cases. Among the secondary causes, face surgery and multiple sclerosis had the highest rate (39.1%), followed by tumors (21.7%). Also, 65% of the patients had normal MRI and 35% had abnormal one. Conclusion: Due to the similar symptoms of the disease such as dental pain, and also maxillofacial surgery in the elderly as one of the most common secondary causes of this disease, facial surgeons and dentists should know more about this disease to avoid unnecessary surgeries.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common mono-neuropathy with various causes. This study aimed at evaluating the epidemiology of patients with the carpal tunnel syndrome referred to Sina Hospital in Hamedan City, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, 300 patients (600 hands) suffering from paresthesia, pain and weakness of the first to third finger were studied. Diagnosis and severity of the disease was evaluated according to history, examination and electro-diagnostic studies. Afterall the data were collected. Results: This study was conducted on 230 (76.7%) females and 70 (23.3%) males with the mean ages of 47.3±17.4 and 49.1±20.2 years, respectively (P=0.224). Sixteen of them were left-handed and the rest were right-handed. Also, 113 of the patients had risk factors such as diabetes with the prevalence of 18.1% and hypothyroidism with 6.4% as the most common ones. The most common occupations were carpet weaving and milking with prevalence rates of 19.4% and 13.3%, respectively. In electro-diagnostic findings, 57% of the patients had moderate involvement and 16.6% had severe involvement. The Phalen and Tinel test was positive in 32.2% of the patients and negative in 32.2% of the cases. There was a relationship between the severity of involvement and probability of a positive Phalen and Tinel test. Conclusion: Considering that 76% of the cases were women and among jobs, after housekeeping, carpet weaving and milking are the most common ones, paying more attention to these people and designing the proper work tools (especially carpet weaving and milking tools) as well as training of the housewives are recommended to prevent this syndrome.