Hemifacial Spasm: Comparison of Results between Patients Older and Younger than 70 Years Operated on with Microvascular Decompression.

Objective:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) for primary hemifacial spasm (HFS) in patients aged ≥70 years and to compare the outcome with a control cohort of younger patients(<70 years).

Methods:  In this retrospective study, subjects were divided into two groups: an elderly group (patients who were ≥70 years) and a younger group. We compared demographic and clinical data, surgical outcome, MVD-related complications, and duration of operation and hospitalization after MVD between the two groups.

Surgical Treatment of Secondary Hemifacial Spasm: Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is generally caused by the root exit zone of the facial nerve compressed by an overlying arterial loop. HFS can also be caused by various types of tumor, aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation. We retrospectively analyzed patients to evaluate possible differences in the demographic and clinical features between primary and secondary HFS.

Involved Small Arteries in Patients Who Underwent Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become widely accepted as first-line therapy for hemifacial spasm. However, not all patients are candidates for the procedure, and some surgeons ignore arterioles that represent the actual underlying cause of the condition. The aim of this study was to address the role of involved arterioles in management of MVD in patients with hemifacial spasm.

Evaluation of Microvascular Decompression as Rescue Therapy for Trigeminal Neuralgia in Patients with Failed Gamma Knife Surgery.

Objective: Owing to increasing use of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), physicians are challenged over the problem of choosing an appropriate treatment if GKS fails. The aim of this study was to determine whether microvascular decompression (MVD) is a safe and effective alternative therapy for trigeminal neuralgia in patients with failed GKS.

Methods: Between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2012, data of 32 patients with trigeminal neuralgia who presented with persistent or recurrent pain after GKS and elected to undergo MVD were collected.

Long-Term Efficacy of Initial Microvascular Decompression Versus Subsequent Microvascular Decompression for Idiopathic Hemifacial Spasm.

Objective: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a disorder characterized by intermittent, involuntary facial muscle contractions. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the gold treatment for HFS. The aim of this research was to discuss whether patients undergoing MVD as their initial surgical intervention experience greater spasm control than patients experiencing an MVD performed as a subsequent surgical intervention.

Management of Primary Bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia with Microvascular Decompression: 13-Case Series.

Background: Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia is a relatively rare disease. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a safe and effective treatment for unilateral trigeminal neuralgia; however, its utility in bilateral trigeminal neuralgia is unclear. Here, we report our experience with MVD in 13 cases of primary bilateral trigeminal neuralgia.

Long-Term Efficacy of Nerve Combing for Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia and Failed Prior Microvascular Decompression.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trigeminal nerve is the most effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, many patients respond poorly to initial MVD. For these patients, redo MVD is commonly done.

The Effects of Combined Intraoperative Monitoring of Abnormal Muscle Response and Z-L Response for Hemifacial Spasm.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective treatment for hemifacial spasm (HFS). During MVD surgery, abnormal muscle response (AMR) is widely used. Z-L response (ZLR) is a new monitoring method for HFS.

Operative Complications of Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm: Experience of 1548 Cases.

Background: Although microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for hemifacial spasm, there are some MVD-related complications.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1548 patients with hemifacial spasm who underwent retromastoid suboccipital craniectomy with MVD from January 2009 to June 2013. All patients were followed for >2 years.

Surgical Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm Caused by the Compression of Internal Auditory Canal of Facial Nerve.

Objective: To make out the way to distinguish the offending vessels compressed the internal auditory canal part of the facial nerve.

Methods: The hemifacial spasm patients were treated of microvascular decompression surgery with neurophysiologic monitoring. The patients were found that the internal auditory canal of the facial nerves was fully compressed, and the records of surgery monitoring were analyzed.

Utility of Brainstem Trigeminal Evoked Potentials in Patients With Primary Trigeminal Neuralgia Treated by Microvascular Decompression.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of brainstem trigeminal evoked potentials (BTEP) waveform in patients with and without trigeminal neuralgia (TN), and to discuss the utility of BTEP in patients with primary TN treated by microvascular decompression (MVD).

Methods: A retrospective review of 43 patients who underwent BTEP between January 2016 and June 2016, including 33 patients with TN who underwent MVD and 10 patients without TN. Brainstem trigeminal evoked potentials characteristics of TN and non-TN were summarized, in particular to compare the BTEP changes between pre- and post-MVD, and to discover the relationship between BTEP changes and surgical outcome.

Results of Atypical Hemifacial Spasm with Microvascular Decompression: 14 Case Reports and Literature Review.

Background: Few studies have examined atypical hemifacial spasm (AHFS), and the mechanism of AHFS remains unclear. In this study, we examined the etiology, prognosis, and treatment of AHFS.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for 14 consecutive patients that underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) for AHFS between January 2014 and December 2015.

Microvascular Decompression for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Long-Term Follow-Up.

Objective: To examine operative findings and outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). This research displayed the long-term outcomes of a large series of 35 cases with GPN treated with MVD.

Methods: From January 2004 to June 2006, 35 consecutive patients were diagnosed with GPN.

Electromyographically Guided Nerve Combing Makes Microvascular Decompression More Successful in Hemifacial Spasm with Persistent Abnormal Muscle Response.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the facial nerve monitored intraoperatively by abnormal muscle response (AMR) activity is a common treatment for hemifacial spasm. AMR frequently persists after MVD, however, for which electromyography (EMG)-guided nerve combing sometimes is recommended. Because no research regarding the success of EMG-guided nerve combing has been published, we compared the effectiveness of nerve combing after MVD with simple MVD in cases including persistent AMR.

The Effects of Dual Abnormal Muscle Response Monitoring on Microvascular Decompression in Patients with Hemifacial Spasm.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most useful treatment for hemifacial spasm (HFS). During MVD surgery, traditional abnormal muscle response (tAMR) is widely used to monitor success in decompressing the facial nerve. Dual AMR (dAMR) is a new monitoring method used during MVD for HFS.

Bell's Palsy: Clinical Analysis of 372 Cases and Review of Related Literature.

Objective: To analyze some clinical and epidemiologic aspects of Bell's palsy (BP) and to develop relevant correlations between existing data in literature and those obtained in this research.

Methods: From January 2012 to December 2014, 372 consecutive patients diagnosed with BP were studied retrospectively. We reviewed the patients' data including gender, age, occupation, clinical manifestations, comorbid disease, and the rate of recurrence.

Factors Promoting a Good Outcome in a Second Microvascular Decompression Operation When Hemifacial Spasm is Not Relieved After the Initial Operation.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become the best treatment for hemifacial spasm (HFS); however, some patients do not obtain complete relief after the initial MVD. We analyzed a group of patients who underwent a second MVD, to identify the factors that prevented relief after the initial MVD and those that promote the success of the second procedure.

Methods: Of a group of 1400 patients with typical primary unilateral HFS treated with MVD between January 2014 and October 2015, we focused on 42 patients with poor postoperative outcomes.

Management of vessels passing through the facial nerve in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

Background: In hemifacial spasm, it is extremely rare to find a vessel passing through the facial nerve. In this study, we present our experience of the surgical treatment of four such patients.

Methods: From January 2010 to Match 2015, we treated 2,576 hemifacial spasm patients with microvascular decompression in our department.

Nimodipine-mediated re-myelination after facial nerve crush injury in rats.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of nimodipine-mediated neural repair after facial nerve crush injury in rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: healthy controls, surgery alone, and surgery plus nimodipine. A facial nerve crush injury model was constructed.