Treatment of hemifacial spasm with botulinum toxin

The effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in 11 patients with hemifacial spasm was investigated in a prospective placebo-controlled blinded study. The patients were treated with four sets of injections to various facial muscles, selected by clinical evaluation. Three injections were with graded doses of toxin and one was with placebo. The order of injections was random and unknown to the patients. Results were scored both subjectively by patient assessment of symptoms and objectively by blinded review of videotapes made one month after each injection. Subjective improvement occurred after 79% of injections with botulinum toxin, regardless of dose of toxin. Only 1 patient improved after placebo. Objective improvement was seen after 84% of injections with botulinum toxin. No patient showed objective improvement after placebo injection. The most frequent side effect was facial weakness, seen after 97% of injections of botulinum toxin. Facial bruising (20%), diplopia (13%), ptosis (7%), and various other mild side effects were seen less frequently. Botulinum toxin appears to be an effective and safe method of therapy for hemifacial spasm.