Effect of jugular tubercle on pathogenesis of hemifacial spasm and its curative efficacy by microvascular decompression / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect of jugular tubercle thickness on pathogenesis of hemifacial spasm (HFS) and its curative efficacy by microvascular decompression (MVD).Methods:One hundred and thirty-five HFS patients accepted MVD in our hospital from June 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled in this study. The thickness of the jugular tubercle was measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with steady state acquisition (FIESTA) sequence. The differences of jugular tubercle thickness and arterial flow rate from the jugular tubercle to the brainstem between the healthy side and symptomatic side in these patients were compared. These patients were divided into immediate symptom-relief group ( n=112) and symptom residual group ( n=23) according to the symptom relief one d after MVD; the difference of jugular tubercle thickness between the two groups were compared. Results:No significant difference in the jugular tubercle thickness was noted between the healthy side and the symptomatic side in all 135 patients ( t=0.787, P=0.432). The arterial flow rate from the jugular tubercle to the brainstem in the symptomatic side (95.6%) was significantly higher than that in the healthy side (57.0%, P<0.05). The jugular tubercle thickness in the symptomatic residual group ([5.13±2.19] mm) was significantly higher than that in the immediate symptom-relief group ([4.03±1.16] mm, t=2.114, P=0.0396). Conclusion:The thickness of jugular tubercle is not associated with HFS onset, but may affect the immediate outcome of MVD.