Results of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm

Ten patients with hemifacial spasm were included in this study. Right spasm occurred in three cases and left spasm in seven. The duration of symptoms ranged from 1-7 years and averaged 4 years. No patients underwent a previous procedure prior to MVD. The operative findings were vascular compression in all cases at the root exit zone. The source of compression was purely arterial in nine cases and mixed in one. No venous compression was found. One patient died and the survivals were spasm free in the immediate postoperative period; but in the median follow up, eight cases were completely spasm free and one had recurrence controlled by re-operation. The operative complications included the morality of one case, decreased hearing in another case and slight facial weakness in a third one. It was concluded that microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm is a safe and effective method

Study of the effectiveness of gentamycin injection in disc space during lumbar discectomy in prevention of postoperative discitis

This prospective study was performed on 150 patients operated upon by lumber discectomy. Seventy-five cases were treated by an injection of 2 ml ampoule of gentamycin in the disc space that was removed; while in the other 75, 2 ml ampoule of sterile water was injected in the disc space. The study showed six cases of postoperative discitis, all in the placebo group, and three cases were diabetics. All cases were in L4-5 disc space. The frequency of discitis was 6/150. In gentamycin group, the frequency was 0%; while in the placebo group, it was 8%. It was concluded that the intraoperative prophylaxis with gentamycin is effective in the prevention of postoperative discitis