Hemifacial Spasm

Hemifacial Spasm is a disabling condition characterized by episodic twitching of the muscles of facial expression on one side of the face. It usually begins around the eye but can spread to involve muscles lower in the face including around the mouth. It affects approximately 10 in every 100,000 people. This can become debilitating with spasms so severe that the eye closes.

There is no effective medication to control this disorder. Botox injections may provide temporary relief but repeat multiple injections are required every three months. It is not always possible to completely eradicate the spasms this way and there is a risk of producing muscular weakness.

Microsurgery in the form of a posterior fossa microvascular decompression of the facial nerve offers an effective and lasting treatment to this devastating problem. Many patients will wake up from surgery and their spasms are gone. In others, the spasms will gradually diminish over time. It is rare for this treatment to not be effective.