[State of the sympathetic orbito-pupillary innervation in facial pain syndromes].

Abstract

In 55 patients with trigeminal pain syndromes of different genesis a study of the state of the orbit-pupillar innervation was undertaken judging by the response to sympathomimetic drugs (adrenalin and cocaine solutions) administered into the conjunctival sack. The obtained data were evaluated by way of pupillography. The disorders in sympathetic orbit-pupillary innervation were found to be independent of a prevailing lesion of any of the three peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgias develop without any disorders in the sympathetic orbit-pupillary innervation. In the presence of a neuritic component in trigeminal pains the disorders in the sympathetic orbit-pupillary innervation are noted invariably. In anaesthesia dolorosa of the face an important place in the genesis of the pain syndrome belongs to the cranial portion of the sympathetic nervous system.