An unusual clinical vignette of oro-pharyngeal discomfort: Pterygoid Hamulus syndrome

BACKGROUND: A straightforward clinical reasoning is always difficult in patients with persistent orofacial pain with vague symptoms. Craniofacial pain or Orofacial pain can have a mixture of causes ranging from neurogenic, myogenic, and psychogenic factors intertwined amidst the intricate anatomy with a high vascular network. This plethora of uncertainty blurs the judgment for such patients to whom we provide care. We hereby present a case of a 17 year old female with vague pain on talking, chewing and even swallowing when initially examined; this chronic orofacial pain often worsened her quality of life. The aim of this manuscript is to present a case of Pterygoid Hamulus syndrome that was misdiagnosed as glossopharyngeal and myofascial neuralgia. METHODS: The condition was managed by surgical excision of the elongated pterygoid hamulus, following a recurrence of her symptoms. RESULTS: The patient was relieved of pain only after the surgical excision of the elongated hamulus. CONCLUSIONS: The surgery was decided upon only after conservative management had not provided much relief and the manuscript also discusses the ambiguous composite pain referral pattern in Pterygoid Hamulus syndrome.