BACKGROUND Although microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for hemifacial spasm, there are some MVD-related complications. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 1548 patients with hemifacial spasm who… Click to show full abstract
BACKGROUND Although microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for hemifacial spasm, there are some MVD-related complications. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 1548 patients with hemifacial spasm who underwent retromastoid suboccipital craniectomy with MVD from January 2009 to June 2013. All patients were followed for >2 years. RESULTS Excellent and good results were 92.5% and 4.2%, respectively. Postoperative complications were recorded in 16.09% (n = 249). There was no MVD-related mortality. After MVD surgery, the most frequent complications were occipital sensory disturbance (7.3%), facial nerve palsy (9.7%), and hearing impairment (3.5%). Other complications were as follows: cerebrospinal fluid leakage (n = 24), poor healing wound (n = 14), lower cranial nerve palsy (n = 12), wound infection (n = 4), and hemorrhage (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS MVD operation is a safe treatment for hemifacial spasm. Facial nerve palsy is the most common MVD-related complication; preservation of the lesser occipital nerve during MVD surgery can decrease the rate of occipital sensory disturbance. Permanent or serious complications are comparatively rare in MVD surgery.
               
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