Electromyographic and reflex study in idiopathic and symptomatic trigeminal neuralgias: latency of the jaw and blink reflexes.

Recorded jaw reflexes were studied in 51 normal subjects. In addition, the blink and jaw reflexes combined with masseteric electromyography were recorded in 17 unselected patients with facial pain. Six of these patients, including two without neurological anomalies, showed electrodiagnostic anomalies. The method proved valuable for differentiation between idiopathic and symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia.