Jaw and blind reflexes in trigeminal nerve lesions. An electrodiagnostic study

Abstract

Eighteen patients with intracranial trigeminal nerve lesions were investigated electrodiagnostically. The trigeminal motor root function was studied on the basis of the jaw reflex and masseter myograms and was disturbed in all cases. The jaw reflexes were abnormal in 16 and the masseter myograms in eight cases. An impressive trigeminal sensory root function was obtained from blink reflex, which was abnormal in 12 cases. The results show the diagnostic value of bilateral recording of the jaw reflex in such patients.