[Facial neuralgia and the cervical vertebral column (author's transl)].

About one quarter of the pains in cervico-cranial syndromes in 50 adults are localized in the facial region. In 19 children more than half of the pains are projected into the face. In the discussion of the possibility of radiation mechanisms it is established that the radicular lesion is of minor importance here, as is the possible compression of a peripheral nerve. The fact is stresssed that "pseudoradicular" symptoms as an expression of a painful muscular tension causes painful radiation but that it is no explanation of radiation of pain into face. The most likely explanation for this is probably "projected" pain or referred pain which must be interpreted as an abnormal cortical reaction of a pain afferent at the trigeminal nucleus into the areas of the face formed like an onion skin.