Results of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm

ABSTRACT

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: