Facial pain. I. A prospective survey of 1052 patients with a view of: definition, delimitation, classification, general data, genetic factors, and previous diseases

Abstract

1052 patients with facial pain have been examined and followed up by the author for an 18-year period. The patients are classified according to type of attack into: Typical Trigeminal Neuralgia (brief pain paroxysms with pain-free intervals). Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia (pain paroxysms with intervals of pain or paroxysms lasting for minutes). Non-neuralgiform Facial Pain (pain lasting or occurring for long periods). The material was equally distributed between patients with Neuralgia and Non-neuralgiform Facial Pain. In the majority of cases Trigeminal Neuralgia occurred after the age of 50. Non-neuralgiform Pain mainly between 30 and 50. There is a majority of women with Non-neuralgiform Pain. No genetic factors could be demonstrated. A detailed registration of previous diseases in the central nervous system, the peripheral nerves, and the facial structures revealed no relation to important aetiological factors.