Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T05:28:27.973Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Hemifacial Spasm: Results of Microvascular Relocation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

David Fairholm*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Jiunn-Ming Wu
Affiliation:
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Kan-Nan Liu
Affiliation:
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
*
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199, Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Twenty patients with hemifacial spasm were treated between February 1980 and June 1981. All presented with typical disabling unilateral contractions of the face. Computerized Tomographic Scan and angiograms ruled out structural mass lesions. All patients underwent posterior fossa microsurgical relocation of a vessel from the root entry zone of the facial nerve. An offending arterial loop was found in each case. Nineteen patients are free of symptoms and the remaining one is improved. One patient has permanent loss of hearing and two developed mild facial weakness. There has been no recurrence in 18 months follow up. These results give further support to the theory that hemifacial spasm is an affliction of the seventh nerve in the cerebello-pontine angle, most commonly caused by vascular cross compression at the root entry zone. Surgical relocation of the offending vessel relieves the symptoms and there appears to be no recurrence. This procedure is not difficult and carries acceptable risk for the patient with this disabling condition.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1983

References

Alexander, G.E. and Moses, H. Ill (1982). Carbamazepine for hemifacial spasm. Neurology 32:286287.Google ScholarPubMed
Auger, R.G. (1979). Hemifacial spasm: Clinical and Electrophysiologic observations. Neurology 29:12611272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Auger, R.G., Peipgras, D.G., Laws, E.R., et al. (1981). Microvascular decompression of the facial nerve for hemifacial spasm: Clinical and electrophysiologic observations. Neurology 31:346350.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Babinski, J. (1905). Hemispasme facial peripherique. Rev. Neurol. 13:443450.Google Scholar
Bragdon, F.H. (1960). Intracranial crushing of the facial nerve for hemifacial spasm. Presented at the Congress of the American College of Surgeons.Google Scholar
Brissaud, E. (1894). Tics et spasmes cloniques de la face. J. Med. Chir. Pract. 65:4964.Google Scholar
Campbell, E. and Keedy, C. (1947). Hemifacial spasm: A note on the etiology in two cases. J. Neurosurg. 4:342347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cawthome, T. (1956). Facial Palsy. Br. Med. J. 11:11971200.Google Scholar
Cushing, H. (1917). Tumors of the nervus acusticus and the syndrome of the cerebello-pontine angle. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Dandy, W.E. (1934). Concerning the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. Am. J. Surg. 23:447455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dandy, W.E. (1945). Surgery of the brain. In: Lewis’s practice of surgery, Vol. 12, WF Prior Co., Hagerstown, M.D.Google Scholar
Davis, W.E., Luterman, B.F.et al. (1981). Hemifacial spasm caused by cholesteatoma. Am. J. Otol. 2:272273.Google ScholarPubMed
Dujovny, M., Osgood, C.P., Faille, R.et al. (1979). Posterior fossa AVM producing hemifacial spasm. Angiology 30:425432.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehni, G. and Woltman, H.W. (1945). Hemifacial spasm: Review of one hundred and six cases. Arch. Neurol. Psychiatry 53:205211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fabinyi, G.C.A. and Adams, C.B.T. (1978). Hemifacial spasm: Treatment by posterior fossa surgery. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 41:829833.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferguson, J.H. (1978), Hemifacial spasm and the facial nucleus. Ann. Neurol. 4:97103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gardner, W.J. and Sava, G.A. (1962). Hemifacial spasm: A reversible pathophysiologic state. J. Neurosurg. 19:240247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, W.J. (1962). Concerning the mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. J. Neurosurg. 19:947957.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gardner, W.J. (1966). Cross talk – the paradoxical transmission of a nerve impulse. Arch. Neurol. 14:149156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gowers, W.R. (1888). A manual of diseases of the nervous system. Vol. 11, London, J. and Churchill, A. pp:228237.Google Scholar
Harris, W. and Wright, A.D. (1932). Treatment of clonic facial spasm: a) by alcohol injection, b) by nerve anastomosis. Lancet 1:657662.Google Scholar
Hunt, J.R. (1909). The sensory system of the facial nerve and its symptomatology. J. Nerv. and Ment. Dis. 36:321350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iwakuma, T., Matsumoto, A. and Nakamura, N. (1982). Hemifacial spasm: Comparison of three different operative procedures in 110 patients. J. Neurosurg. 57:753756.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jannetta, P.J. (1976). Vascular compression of the facial nerve at the brain stem in hemifacial spasm: Treatment by microsurgical decompression. In Morley, T.P (ed.): Current Controversies in Neurosurgery, pp:435442. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Jannetta, P.J., Abbasy, M., et al. (1977). Etiology and definitive microsurgical treatment of hemifacial spasm: Operative techniques and results in 47 patients. J. Neurosurg. 47:321328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jannetta, P.J. (1979). Microsurgery of cranial nerve cross compression. Clinical Neurosurg. 26:605607.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jannetta, P.J. (1981). Hemifacial spasm. In: The Cranial Nerves, edited by Samii, M. and Jannetta, P.J.Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York. pp.484493.Google Scholar
Kao, M.C., Hung, C.C., Chen, R.C. and Lien, I.N. (1978). Controlled thermodenervation of the facial nerve in the treatment of hemifacial spasm. J. Formosan Med. Assoc. 77:226233.Google ScholarPubMed
Kaye, A.H. and Adams, C.B. (1981). Hemifacial spasm: a long term follow up of patients treated by posterior fossa surgery and facial nerve wrapping. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 44:11001103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kondo, A., Ishikawa, J.-I., et al. (1981). The pathogenesis of hemifacial spasm: Characteristic changes of vasculatures in Vertebro-basilar artery system. In: The Cranial Nerves, edited by Samii, M. and Jannetta, P.J.Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York. pp:494501.Google Scholar
Liu, K.N., Wu, J.M. and Fairholm, D.J. (1981). Hemifacial spasm: Treatment by posterior fossa surgery. J. Form. Med. Assoc. 80(11):12351239.Google ScholarPubMed
Liu, K.N. and Wu, J.M. (1982). Angiographic findings in hemifacial spasm. (In press).Google Scholar
Magun, R. and Esslen, E. (1959). Electromyographic study of reinnervated muscle and of hemifacial spasm. Am. J. Phys. Med. 38:7986.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maroon, J.C. (1978). Hemifacial spasm: A vascular cause. Arch. Neurol. 35:481.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maroon, J.C., Lunsford, L.D. and Deeb, Z.L. (1978). Hemifacial spasm due to aneurysmal compression of the facial nerve. Arch. Neurol. 35:545546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miehlke, A. (1981). Management of hemifacial spasm. In: The Cranial Nerves, edited by Samii, M. and Jannetta, P.J.Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York. pp:478483.Google Scholar
Moller, M.B., Moller, A.R. and Jannetta, P.J. (1982). Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in patients with hemifacial spasm. Laryngoscope 92:848852.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morley, T.P. (1976). Hemifacial spasm alias facial myokymia cause and treatment. In: Current Controversies in Neurosurgery, edited by Morely, T.P.WB Saunders Co., Toronto. pp:431434.Google Scholar
Neagoy, D.R. and Dohn, D.F. (1974). Hemifacial spasm secondary to vascular compression of the facial nerve. Cleve. Clin. Q. 41:205214.Google ScholarPubMed
Nosik, W.A. and Weil, A.A. (1956). Selective partial neurectomy in hemifacial spasm and the electrophysiologic selection of patients. J. Neurosurg. 13:596602.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pierry, A. and Cameron, M. (1979). Clonic hemifacial spasm from posterior fossa arteriovenous malformation. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 42:670672.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rand, R.W. (1982). Gardner’s neurovascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Arch. Neurol. 39:510511.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rhoton, A.L. Jr. (1978). Microsurgical neurovascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. J. Fla. Med. Assoc. 65:425428.Google ScholarPubMed
Ruby, J.R. and Jannetta, P.J. (1975). Hemifacial spasm: Ultrastructural changes in the facial nerve induced by neurovascular compression. Surg. Neurol. 4:369370.Google ScholarPubMed
Rushworth, R.G. and Smith, S.F. (1982). Trigeminal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasm: Treatment by microvascular decompression. Med. J Aust. 1(10):424426.Google ScholarPubMed
Samii, M. (1981). Surgical treatment of hemifacial spasm. In: The Cranial Nerves, edited by Samii, M. and Jannetta, P.J.Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York. pp:502504.Google Scholar
Scoville, W.B. (1955). Partial section of proximal seventh nerve trunk for facial spasm. Surg. Gynec. Obstet. 101:495.Google ScholarPubMed
Scoville, W.B. (1969). Partial extracranial section of the seventh nerve for hemifacial spasm. J. Neurosurg. 31:106108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seidman, M.S. and Vacharat, N. (1980). Idiopathic hemifacial spasm treated wtih alcohol injection: a case report. Ophthalmic Surg. 11:109111.Google Scholar
Sobel, D., Nouman, D.Yorke, C.H. and Newton, T.H. (1980). Radiography of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. Am. J.R. 135:9395.Google ScholarPubMed
Toremalm, N.G.et al. (1977). Hemifacial spasm. Nerve block with phenol under electromyographic control. Acta. Otolaryngol. 83:341348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, C.B., Yorke, C. and Priolean, G. (1980). Microsurgical vascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. West. J. Med. 132:481487.Google ScholarPubMed
Woltman, H.W., Williams, H.L. and Lambert, E.H. (1951). An attempt to relieve hemifacial spasm by neurolysis of the facial nerves. Proc. Mayo. Clinic 26:236240.Google ScholarPubMed
Yeh, H.S., Tew, J.M. and Ramirez, R.M. (1981). Microsurgical treatment of intractable hemifacial spasm. Neurosurg. 9:383386.Google ScholarPubMed