title: Hemifacial spasm due to peripheral injury of facial nerve: a nuclear syndrome?
abstract: Four cases of hemifacial spasm (HFS) are reported. The spasm followed a few months after injury to a peripheral branch of the seventh nerve. An EMG examination of facial muscles disclosed the typical finding of HFS: spontaneous activity, paradoxical cocontraction, and diffusion of spontaneous or provoked blinking. A nuclear involvement, secondary to the nerve lesion, is the most likely pathophysiological explanation for similar cases in HFS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ippoliti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013035:Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology*