A New Management Strategy for Hemimasticatory Spasm

Zhongding Zhang; Datan Lu; Tingting Ying; Shiting Li; Hua Zhao

doi:10.1055/a-2479-5625

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2025; 86(04): 377-382
DOI: 10.1055/a-2479-5625

Original Article

A New Management Strategy for Hemimasticatory Spasm

Authors

Zhongding Zhang^*

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Yangpu District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Datan Lu^*

²Department of Neurology, Longling County People's Hospital, Baoshan City, China
Tingting Ying

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Yangpu District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Shiting Li

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Yangpu District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Hua Zhao

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Yangpu District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Abstract

Background Hemimasticatory spasm (HMS) is an uncommon movement disorder of the trigeminal motor rootlet characterized by unilateral, involuntary, and paroxysmal contractions of the muscles of mastication. The mechanisms for HMS are still unclear, and an efficient treatment strategy still needs to be developed. This study aims to investigate the clinical features and surgical treatment of HMS.

Methods Twelve patients with HMS were included in our study. The patient data regarding clinical characteristics, neuroimaging presentations, intraoperative findings, and treatment outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Highly selective trigeminal motor root rhizotomy (HSTR) combined with microvascular compression was performed in nine cases with neurovascular conflict, whereas three patients without vascular compression underwent HSTR only.

Results Intraoperative findings showed that there were two patients with six branches, two patients with five branches, and the remaining patients with three to four branches of the trigeminal motor roots. Seven patients had two motor branches severed, three patients had one motor branch severed, and two patients each had three motor branches severed. Nine patients recovered uneventfully and showed no signs of spasms, and the remaining two patients experienced complete disappearance of symptoms within 3 months after surgery. In one patient, the symptoms disappeared immediately after surgery but recurred 2 years later.

Conclusion The surgical procedures of HSTR can significantly alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients with HMS without serious complications.

Keywords

hemimasticatory spasm - rhizotomy - microvascular compression

Full Text

References

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