Hemifacial spasm: clinical characteristics of 321 Indian patients

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a common neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tonic and clonic contractions of the muscles innervated by the facial nerve. We aimed to describe clinical features, common antecedents, triggers and relieving factors in patients with hemifacial spasm to study the correlation of hypertension and HFS, and to compare clinical features of primary and secondary cases of HFS. The data for the study were collected prospectively on a predesigned and pre-tested format at the first attendance in all consecutive HFS patients attending the movement disorders clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital in India. The demographic profile, HFS symptoms, antecedent illnesses and neurological examination were recorded and analyzed. Muscle power in individual muscles innervated by the facial nerve was tested carefully before botulinum toxin injection. Hemifacial spasm occurred in 7.14% (n = 582) of 8,151 cases registered at the movement disorders clinic from 1993 to 2010. Data of 321 patients were complete and were included in the study. Females constituted 49.22% (n = 158). The mean age the patients was 46.02 ± 11.82 years; ipsilateral ear clicking was observed in 22.74% cases. The most common aggravating factor was stress (44.86%), while the most common relieving factor was sleep (44.24%). Two hundred fifty-two patients (78.5%) had primary HFS. The severity of spasm correlated significantly with disease duration (p < 0.001) and weakness of facial muscles (p < 0.001). We did not observe any correlation between HFS on the left side and hypertension, as has been reported earlier. This is one of the largest studies of HFS patients and the only one that prospectively assesses patients with HFS clinically on their first visit. Interesting observations of this study are lack of female preponderance, presence of clicking in the ipsilateral ear and facial weakness even prior to botulinum toxin injection.