Facial Nerve Indentation in Hemifacial Spasm: An Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Formation of and Consequent Effects Associated with Indentation.

BACKGROUND

An indentation, designating a furrowed hole on the facial nerve, has been used in many studies for locating pathophysiology and assessing relevant clinical outcomes after microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm (HFS). In this study, we sought to elucidate the contributing factors forming indentation on the facial nerve and the consequent effect of having indentation on the clinical course.

METHODS

We divided the patients into 2 groups: group A, the patients who had no indentation on the root exit zone of the facial nerve; and group B, the patients who had an indentation. Demographic data, intraoperative findings, and clinical outcomes were analyzed from retrospective review of the medical records.

RESULTS

Of the 132 patients, 47.0% had an indentation on the facial nerve. Our statistical analyses showed that the preoperative symptom period, compression location, and compression pattern were associated with the occurrence of the indentation. Also, we showed that HFS reappearance developed more frequently in patients in group B, who needed more time for the resolution of HFS. The final clinical outcome was less influenced by the existence of the indentation, although it was slightly poorer for group B than for group A.

CONCLUSIONS

The indentation on the facial nerve was associated with longer duration of symptoms, the presence of compression in the proximal segment of the root exit zone, and loop-type pattern of compression. More patients with indentation experienced the HFS reappearance phenomenon, which lasted longer than in those who had no indentation.