Otalgia in adults is often secondary to non-otologic pathology, particularly with normal otoscopic examination. Auriculotemporal neuralgia (ATN) is a rare and overlooked cause of secondary otalgia. We present a case of an Army veteran with chronic right otalgia and dizziness following blast-related mild traumatic brain injury who was initially diagnosed with vestibular migraine....
No actionable change based on a single case report; cryoneurolysis of the auriculotemporal nerve is an emerging option for refractory secondary otalgia, but evidence is insufficient to recommend adoption without further controlled studies.
Secondary otalgia from auriculotemporal neuralgia is frequently missed or mismanaged; this case adds to a small but growing body of evidence for interventional nerve-targeted treatments in refractory ear pain.
- 01Single case report describing cryoneurolysis (cold-based nerve treatment) of the auriculotemporal nerve for ear pain.
- 02Patient had secondary otalgia (ear pain referred from another source) due to auriculotemporal neuralgia.
- 03Auriculotemporal neuralgia is described as rare and under-recognised in clinical practice.
- 04Cryoneurolysis appeared to reduce pain in this case, but no controlled data are available.
- 05Published in BMJ Case Reports; evidence is limited to a single patient.
Cryoneurolysis of the auriculotemporal nerve can reduce secondary otalgia caused by auriculotemporal neuralgia.
studypartially supportedAuriculotemporal neuralgia is a rare and under-recognised cause of secondary otalgia.
opinionpartially supported- PMID
- 42270145
- DOI
- 10.1136/bcr-2025-271980.
- Journal
- BMJ Case Reports
- Publication type
- case_report
- Evidence level
- 4
- Sample size
- 1
- Population
- Single patient with secondary otalgia due to auriculotemporal neuralgia
- Intervention
- Cryoneurolysis of the auriculotemporal nerve
Primary outcomes
Reduction in otalgia severity following cryoneurolysis