Microvascular decompression of the accessory nerve for treatment of spasmodic torticollis: early results in 12 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the early effectiveness of microvascular decompression (MVD) for the treatment of spasmodic torticollis (ST).


METHODS
Twelve patients with spasmodic torticollis were treated by microvascular decompression of the accessory nerves using a microscopic neurosurgical technique via the retrosigmoid approach. The most common compressing blood vessels were the ipsilateral posterior inferior cerebral artery (PICA) and/or the vertebral artery. The intraoperative monitor was introduced to detect the accessory nerve and to avoid unnecessary damage to the nerve.


RESULTS
Ten patients were cured (83%), and the other two (17%) improved with moderate spasms. In most cases, the improvement was noticed 1 week after the operation. No operation-related complications were observed during the follow-up period, which ranged from 2 months to 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The early effect of MVD for some patients with spasmodic torticollis was satisfactory, but the long-term results need to be assessed further.
Sun
Kehua
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
Lu
Yicheng
Y
Hu
Guohan
G
Luo
Chun
C
Hou
Lijun
L
Chen
Juxiang
J
Wu
Xiaojun
X
Mei
Qiyong
Q
D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D020436:Accessory Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014103:Torticollis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult