title: [Microvascular decompression in hemifacial spasm: 13 cases report and review of the literature].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe the results of 13 patients with facial hemispasm, treated with microvascular decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2005 and May 2014, 13 patients with facial hemispasm were operated, underwent microvascular decompression. The age, sex, duration of symptoms before surgery, and surgical finds, were all evaluated. In addition, postoperative results were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were women and 6 were men. The average age of the patients was 53 years. The average time between onset of symptoms and surgery ranged from 3 to 9 years. In all cases the facial hemispasm was typical, one with concomitant trigeminal neuralgia, observed in all neurovascular compression intraoperative. In decreasing order of frequency, the cause of compression was anterior inferior cerebellar artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery, dolicomega basilar artery and dolicomega vertebral artery. The average time of postoperative follow-up after the surgery was 24 months. Complete relief from spasm occurred in 62%; 30% disappearance after 3 weeks-2 months (8% partial) and in 8% had no improvement. Regarding postoperative complications: 3 patients had facial paresis II-III in House-Brackman scale and 1 patient presented CSF leak. None of the patients in the serie had hearing loss or deafness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microvascular decompression for facial hemispasm is a safe an effective procedure, which allows complete resolution of the disease in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Padilla, Tucumán, Argentina, USA; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Sanatorio Modelo, Tucumán, Argentina, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Padilla, Tucumán, Argentina, USA; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Sanatorio Modelo, Tucumán, Argentina, USA; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: Isabel Cuervo-Arango
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Herreros
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Sanatorio Los Arroyos, Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barrenechea
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Padilla, Tucumán, Argentina, USA; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Sanatorio Modelo, Tucumán, Argentina, USA.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andjel
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ajler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rhoton