Effectiveness of Minimally Invasive Partial Orbicularis Myectomy for Treating Benign Essential Blepharospasm: A Study...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurosurgery
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a neurological movement disorder causing involuntary eyelid closure.
• Botulinum toxin injections are a common treatment but may become ineffective over time.
• Effective surgical interventions are needed for refractory BEB cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of minimally invasive partial orbicularis myectomy for BEB.
• To assess the Jankovic Rating Scale (JRS) and Blepharospasm Disability Index (BDI) as outcome measures.
• To determine the long-term efficacy and safety of the surgical procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 18 BEB patients (36 eyes) unresponsive to botulinum toxin.
• Partial orbicularis myectomy performed between 2018 and 2022.
• JRS and BDI scores collected preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• Median JRS score improved by 50% (7.5 to 3) at 1 year post-surgery.
• Median BDI score improved by 47.22% (20 to 9.5) at 1 year post-surgery.
• Improvements were statistically significant (p < 0.001) and sustained; no major complications reported.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive partial orbicularis myectomy is effective for BEB patients refractory to botulinum toxin.
• The procedure provides significant and sustained symptom and functional improvement.
• JRS and BDI are valuable tools for assessing surgical outcomes in BEB treatment.