title: Microvascular Decompression Surgery for Hemifacial Spasm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the operative efficacy, surgical complication rate, and surgical strategy of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 46 patients with HFS who underwent MVD were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During surgery, it was found that the facial nerve root exit zone was compressed by the following arterial vessels: anterior inferior cerebellar artery in 24 patients (52.17%); posterior inferior cerebellar artery in 14 patients (30.43%); vertebral artery and a small artery in 7 patients (15.22%); and vertebral artery in 1 patient (2.18%). Symptoms of 38 patients were immediately remitted completely after surgery and symptoms of 8 patients were significantly reduced. Main complications included dizziness and tinnitus in 9 patients, hearing loss in 5 patients, cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 patient, and infection in 2 patients. No patient died during surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MVD is the preferred choice for treating idiopathic hemifacial spasm, and hearing impairment is the main complication. Skilled microsurgical techniques, as well as identifying and completely decompressing offending vessels, are the key to ensuring a successful microvascular decompression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Shijiazhuang, China.
authors.forename: Hongwu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Weining
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000209:etiology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology