Trigeminal neuralgia--earlier referral for surgery.

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia may be treated in many ways before referral for definitive surgery. This aspect has been looked at in a group of 140 consecutive patients. Patients on prolonged medication have been studied with respect to the period over which the pain occurred and the amount of carbamazepine taken. Earlier referral for surgery is recommended for some of these patients and guidelines are given.