Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is a rare condition resulting from self-manipulation of the skin after an injury to the trigeminal nerve. We describe the case of a 70-year-old woman who was hospitalized because of erythema, ulceration, and crusts on the right side of her face, accompanied by itching, burning, and irritation forcing self-manipulation of the skin. She had been previously repeatedly treated with antibiotics, acyclovir, and topical medications without any improvement. Her medical history revealed an episode of ischemic stroke in 2016, after which a deformation and partial atrophy of the right ala nasi appeared. Trigeminal neuropathy was confirmed by a neurological consultation. Diagnosis and treatment of TTS requires a multidisciplinary approach. Awareness of this disease should be raised to enable proper diagnosis and management of difficult-to-treat facial ulcers that cannot be explained by common causes.
Keywords: facial ulcers; ischemic stroke; trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS); trophic disorders.
© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.