[Neurosurgical treatment of symptomatic and atypical facial neuralgias (author's transl)].

Symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, especially in multiple sclerosis, can be successfully eliminated by percutaneously controlled thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion. Atypical facial neuralgias are only improved by this intervention if secondary pains accompany the persistent pains. All neurosurgical procedures must be avoided with persistent unclassifiable pains in the area of distritubion of one or more branches of the trigeminus, especially in young people. The problem of neurosurgical treatment of analgesia dolorosa has not yet been finally solved.