title: Lateral basal approach with a supine, no-retractor method for microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We describe the details of our unique surgical procedures for microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient is just laid supine, skipping the complicated preparation for the lateral or park-bench position. The subfloccular approach from a small cranial window situated on the more lateral and basal side of the occipital cranium enables the surgeon to reach all the segments of the facial nerve root without cerebellar retraction by a spatula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe this approach is ideal for the safe and precise decompression of any part of the facial nerve root.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Showa University School of Medicine, 5-8 Hatanodai 1, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan, katsuyoshis@aol.com.
authors: Katsuyoshi
authors: K
authors: Shimizu
authors: Masaki
authors: M
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Wada
authors: Tohoru
authors: T
authors: Mizutani
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016683:Supine Position