Intra-operative monitoring by facial electromyographic responses during microvascular decompressive surgery for hemifacial spasm

The facial electromyographic response was monitored intraoperatively in 40 patients with hemifacial spasm who were operated on by microvascular decompression of the facial nerve. All 40 patients showed an abnormal facial electromyographic response (lateral spread response) with a latency of about 10 msec after stimulation. The abnormal response resolved before decompression in 22, resolved immediately with decompression in 16, and failed to resolve in two. Of the 38 patients in whom the abnormal response disappeared during surgery, 36 were postoperatively free from hemifacial spasm and two had mild hemifacial spasm. The two patients in whom the lateral spread response did not disappear during surgery showed persistent hemifacial spasm. In conclusion. Disappearance of the lateral spread response during surgery correlated with the absence of hemifacial spasm in the early postoperative period. The prognosis of hemifacial spasm was good in cases in whom the lateral spread response disappeared. Therefore, the authors think that intra-operative facial electromyography is very useful in assessing the efficacy of microvascular decompression and in predicting the prognosis of hemifacial spasm.