J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2007 Nov;42(5):355-362. 10.3340/jkns.2007.42.5.355.

Hemifacial Spasm: A Neurosurgical Perspective

• Kong DS
• Park K

• KMID: 1956209
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2007.42.5.355

Abstract

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by tonic clonic contractions of the muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Compression of the facial nerve by an ectatic vessel is widely recognized as the most common underlying etiology. HFS needs to be differentiated from other causes of facial spasms, such as facial tic, ocular myokymia, and blepharospasm. To understand the overall craniofacial abnormalities and to perform the optimal surgical procedures for HFS, we are to review the prevalence, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, details of each treatment modality, usefulness of brainstem auditory evoked potentials monitoring, debates on the facial EMG, clinical course, and complications from the literature published from 1995 to the present time.

Keyword

Hemifacial spasm; Microvascular decompression; Craniofacial abnormalities

MeSH Terms

Blepharospasm
Craniofacial Abnormalities
Diagnosis, Differential
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
Facial Nerve
Hemifacial Spasm*
Microvascular Decompression Surgery
Muscles
Myokymia
Prevalence
Spasm
Tics