A new method for evaluating trigeminal motor nerve conduction

The electrodiagnosis test proposed by the authors can be used in the comparative bilateral evaluation of trigeminal motor nerve conduction. The mandibular division of this nerve is stimulated by applying a TENS device onto a pre-auricular point at the level of the semilunar mandibular notch. The responses in masseters and temporal muscles thus produced with masticatories in motion are recorded using an electromyograph set at 0-255 muV. The response values characteristic of normal functionality average 20 muV, while the corresponding values obtained from patients with trigeminal disorders, remained invariably below 10 muV.