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Hemifacial spasm associated with focal bone hyperostosis.
A Mitsos1, N Georgakoulias, A Jenkins
1Department of Neurosurgery, 401 Army General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece. aristotelismit@yahoo.com
British Journal of Neurosurgery
|June 28, 2006
Summary
A rare case of hemifacial spasm caused by temporal bone hyperostosis was successfully treated. Microvascular decompression relieved the facial nerve compression, offering a long-term spasm-free outcome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is an involuntary twitching of facial muscles.
- It is often caused by compression of the facial nerve by a blood vessel.
- Focal temporal bone hyperostosis is an uncommon cause of HFS.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old patient presented with a 6-year history of progressive left hemifacial spasm.
- Conservative treatments were ineffective.
- Intraoperative findings revealed focal hyperostosis of the temporal bone compressing the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) against the facial nerve.
Findings:
- The patient underwent microvascular decompression surgery.
- The hyperostosis was identified as the cause of facial nerve compression.
- Postoperative recovery was uneventful.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual etiology for hemifacial spasm.
- Microvascular decompression is an effective treatment for HFS secondary to temporal bone hyperostosis.
- Surgical intervention can provide long-term relief from debilitating facial spasms.