title: Analysis of therapeutic effect of microvascular decompression surgery on idiopathic hemifacial spasm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper is to study the therapeutic effect of microvascular decompression surgery on idiopathic hemifacial spasm with compression on different zones of facial nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 348 patients with idiopathic hemifacial spasm treated by microvascular decompression surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to compression on different zones of facial nerve by offending vessels. Root exit point was compressed in 18 patients (group A), transitional zone of brainstem was compressed in 42 patients (group B), attached segment of brainstem was compressed in 35 patients (group C), distal cisternal portion was compressed in 21 patients (group D), and 2 or more zones were compressed in 232 patients (group E). The therapeutic effect was observed, and outcome of excellent and partial good were regarded as effective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for 0.5 to 2 years. The effective rates were 94.4%, 95.2%, 97.1%, 95.2%, and 93.9% in group A, group B, group C, group D, and group E, respectively.No death occurred during operation,and there were no severe complications such as complete facial paralysis, intracranial hematoma, and hearing loss after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microvascular decompression surgery is the first choice for treatment hemifacial spasm. Proper detection of offending vessels and complete decompression may be the key factors to increase the cure rate.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qiufeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wenchuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guowei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuesheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiaosheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shiting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult