Etiology and definitive microsurgical treatment of hemifacial spasm

TLDR

The study reviewed clinical and operative findings in 47 patients with intractable hemifacial spasm. All 47 patients exhibited root‑exit‑zone compression, with 46 cases due to arterial loop cross‑compression and one due to a cholesteatoma, and the cohort was mostly classical in presentation (45/47) with favorable postoperative outcomes and low morbidity.

Abstract

✓ The clinical and operative findings are reviewed in 47 patients with intractable hemifacial spasm. The syndrome was classical in its features in 45 patients and atypical in two. Mechanical compression distortion of the root exit zone of the facial nerve was noted in all 47 patients. In 46 the abnormality was vascular cross-compression, usually by an arterial loop. In one patient, a small cholesteatoma was discovered and removed. Morbidity and postoperative results are discussed.