Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: results from 23 years at a single institution

Objective: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by unilateral tonic and/or clonic contractions of the facial muscles. The most frequent cause of HFS is neurovascular focal compression of the root exit zone of the facial nerve. Microvascular decompression (MVD) works well, with effects that last almost permanently. We analyzed the surgical outcomes and complications from the last 23 years at our institution. Methods: This study analyzed 244 patients who underwent MVD between June 1998 and July 2021. All patients were followed up for more than 24 months. The preoperative image workups were brain magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and constructive interference in steady state (from 2009 onwards). Starting in July 2012, intraoperative monitoring was performed. Surgery was performed through the retrosigmoid approach by a single neurosurgeon. Results: Out of 244 patients, 160 were female and 84 were male. The average age was 53.8 years (range, 19–78 years). In total, 226 patients (92.6%) completely recovered from HFS, two patients (0.8%) underwent reoperation, and complications occurred in 16 patients (6.6%). In 61 patients with preoperative facial palsy on the affected side, palsy improved in 56 patients (91.8%) and 12 patients (19.7%) had thick arachnoid membranes.Conclusion: MVD has a durable effect on the improvement of HFS and may also improve HFS and concomitant palsy if preoperative facial palsy is present. Therefore, it is thought to be a treatment method that can be actively recommended to patients.