Contribution of trigeminal and facial reflexes to the localization of Vth, VIIth, and VIIIth cranial nerve dysfunction

After a review of electrophysiological studies in 1,500 cases concerning different types of lesions of the trigeminal nerve, the acousticofacial complex, and the brain stem, one can conclude that beside the intensive clinical examination which most often allows a precise topographic diagnosis, study of trigeminofacial and facial reflexes appears to be an essential diagnostic method to determine the topography of the lesions. On the other hand, this study can sometimes contribute to the prognostic evaluation as well as the choice of the approach in some lesions concerning the acousticofacial complex.