eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Neuromuscular Diseases

Hemifacial Spasm: Follow-up

Author: Steven Gulevich, MD, Department of Neurology, Swedish Medical Center of Englewood, Colorado
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 3, 2009

Follow-up

Prognosis

Hemifacial spasm is a progressive, nonfatal illness. It almost always responds favorably to treatment.

Patient Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Procedures Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article BOTOX® Injections.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • At initial evaluation, consider hemifacial spasm a symptom, not a diagnosis.
  • An abnormal neurologic examination (except for the facial movements) should prompt the search for an underlying cause (eg, compressive lesion, tumor, stroke).
  • Look for demyelinating disease as a cause when hemifacial spasm presents before age 50 years.
 


More on Hemifacial Spasm

Overview: Hemifacial Spasm
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Hemifacial Spasm
Treatment & Medication: Hemifacial Spasm
Follow-up: Hemifacial Spasm
References
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References

  1. Adler CH, Zimmerman RA, Savino PJ, et al. Hemifacial spasm: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance tomographic angiography. Ann Neurol. Oct 1992;32(4):502-6. [Medline].

  2. Campos-Benitez M, Kaufmann AM. Neurovascular compression findings in hemifacial spasm. J Neurosurg. Sep 2008;109(3):416-20. [Medline].

  3. Colosimo C, Chianese M, Giovannelli M, et al. Botulinum toxin type B in blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. May 2003;74(5):687. [Medline].

  4. Cruccu G, Inghilleri M, Berardelli A, et al. Pathophysiology of hemimasticatory spasm. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Jan 1994;57(1):43-50. [Medline].

  5. Elston JS. The management of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. J Neurol. Jan 1992;239(1):5-8. [Medline].

  6. Jankovic J, Schwartz K, Donovan DT. Botulinum toxin treatment of cranial-cervical dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, other focal dystonias and hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Aug 1990;53(8):633-9. [Medline].

  7. Jannetta PJ, Abbasy M, Maroon JC, et al. Etiology and definitive microsurgical treatment of hemifacial spasm. Operative techniques and results in 47 patients. J Neurosurg. Sep 1977;47(3):321-8. [Medline].

  8. Kraft SP, Lang AE. Cranial dystonia, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm: clinical features and treatment, including the use of botulinum toxin. CMAJ. Nov 1 1988;139(9):837-44. [Medline].

  9. Mauriello JA, Leone T, Dhillon S, et al. Treatment choices of 119 patients with hemifacial spasm over 11 years. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. Aug 1996;98(3):213-6. [Medline].

  10. Moller AR. The cranial nerve vascular compression syndrome: I. A review of treatment. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1991;113(1-2):18-23. [Medline].

  11. Moller AR. The cranial nerve vascular compression syndrome: II. A review of pathophysiology. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1991;113(1-2):24-30. [Medline].

  12. Reimer J, Gilg K, Karow A, et al. Health-related quality of life in blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm. Acta Neurol Scand. Jan 2005;111(1):64-70. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

hemifacial spasm, craniofacial movement disorders, facial myoclonus, facial dystonia, botulinum toxin, BTX therapy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Steven Gulevich, MD, Department of Neurology, Swedish Medical Center of Englewood, Colorado
Steven Gulevich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Stephen A Berman, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Neurology, Dartmouth Medical School; Chief, Neurology Service, White River Junction Veterans Medical Center
Stephen A Berman, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Glenn Lopate, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine; Chief of Neurology, St Louis ConnectCare, Consulting Staff, Barnes Jewish Hospital
Glenn Lopate, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD, Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa General Hospital
Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD, Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants
Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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