Hemifacial spasm: results of microvascular decompression of the facial nerve in 54 patients.

During the 10-year period between January 1975 and December 1984, 367 patients with hemifacial spasm were examined at our institution. Because of the severity of the spasm, 54 patients underwent surgical management that consisted of microvascular decompression of the facial nerve. Postoperatively, the hemifacial spasm was completely resolved in 44 patients (81%), but 6 of these patients had subsequent recurrence of the condition. An additional five patients (9%) experienced improvement but were not totally free of the spasm. Five patients (9%) received no benefit from the procedure. Complications occurred in 19 patients (35%) but were usually transient. The most serious complication was permanent ipsilateral hearing loss, which occurred in eight patients (15%). Thus, in general, microvascular decompression of the facial nerve effectively alleviates hemifacial spasm.