Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome as a Complication of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

Abstract

Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is an unusual complication that occurs secondary to trigeminal nerve injury. The insult to the nerve can lead to anesthesia, hypoesthesia, and paresthesias producing sensations such as burning or itching. The combination of both leads to repeated self-inflicted skin trauma in an attempt to alleviate these sensations, eventually leading to ulceration of the skin. We report a case of a 71-year-old male patient with a scalp ulcer who had an episode of herpes zoster ophthalmicus four months prior to presentation.