A new surgical technique for the treatment of hemifacial spasm consisting of longitudinal splitting of the facial nerve in the cerebellopontine angle is described. Thirty-three cases have been treated with good results. Follow-up of 20 cases for 1 year or more showed no recurrence or facial paresis. One case required a second operation. The novelty of this approach lies in its effectiveness in relieving the symptoms without running the risk of overmanipulating the aberrant artery.
FanZ. A new surgical technique for facial hyperkinesia [Letter]. Arch Otolaryngol1982; 108: 461.
2.
JannettaPJ. Arterial compression to the trigeminal nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg1967; 26: 159–62.
3.
JannettaPJ. Hemifacial spasm. In: WilsonCBHoffJT, eds. Current surgical management of neurologic disease. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 1980: 304–5.
4.
SweetWH. Current concepts in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux). N Engl J Med1986; 315: 174–7.
