ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC CHANGES AND THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF BOTULIN A ON HEMIFACIAL SPASM / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

To explore the cause and pathology of hemifacial spasm and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of butulin A, 240 HFS patients were studied for therapeutic efficacy of multifocal facial injections with botulin A. Symptomatic alleviations after the injection were graded in comparison with the symptoms in the pre-treatment stage. Electromyography (EMG) was performed in 68 patients at random. Following the treatment, 96% of the patients were relieved of symptomes, but in 80% of the patients the symptom relapsed about one half a year later. The results showed that the latent period of EMG was longer than normal facial muscle, and the amplitude of evoked movement potential of EMG of orbiticularis occuli muscle and orbiticularis oris muscle was decreased. The cause of hemifacial spasm was resulted from pathological stimulation of the facial nerve, producing abnormal nervous conduction. The therapeutic hemifacial spasm with botulin A is an easy and effective method.