Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm associated with distinct offending vessels: A retrospective clinical...

To investigate the surgical effects and complications of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) based on different offending vessels, and report our surgical experience of HFS patients related to vertebral artery.

MVDs performed in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017 were retrospectively studied, and 1152 patients with HFS were split into two groups in accordance with the offending vessels.

954 patients with HFS caused by small vascular compression were classified as Group A. 849 patients got cured immediately after MVD, while delayed resolution was identified in 101 patients. 4 patients were not relieved and 4 were relapsed during the follow-up period. We observed 76 cases of delayed facial paralysis, 7 cases of hearing loss, 2 hoarseness and 3 cases of CSF leakage after surgery. In Group B, 198 patients displayed HFS associated with the vertebral artery (VA). 144 cases were spasm free after surgery and 51 patients had a delayed resolution. 3 patients were not significantly ameliorated and 2 were relapsed during the follow-up period. The major postoperative complications included facial paralysis in 28 patients, hearing loss in 4 and hoarseness and dysphagia in 3. The two groups showed no operative death.

For the patients with HFS related to VA, the delayed cure rate and the incidence of postoperative cranial nerve complications were higher than HFS attributed to small vascular compression. And the two groups were not different in the long-term outcome and the incidence of permanent cranial nerve complications.