Abstract
Objective To evaluate clinical features, outcomes, and complications in patients with hemifacial
spasm (HFS) after microvascular decompression (MVD) of different offending vessels.
Methods Clinical data were collected from 362 patients with HFS treated with MVD between
January 2013 and January 2014. Patients were divided into five groups based on the
offending vessel: A (anterior inferior cerebellar artery [AICA] compression), B (posterior
inferior cerebellar artery [PICA] compression), C (AICA plus PICA compression), D
(vertebral artery [VA] compression), and E (VA plus small vessel compression).
Results The most common offending vessel was the AICA (51.38%). The most common compression
site was the root exit zone. During the follow-up period, the effective rate was 95.48%
in group A, 92.15% in group B, 93.10% in group C, 90.14% in group D, and 91.45% in
group E. Twenty-nine patients exhibited delayed facial palsy, the most common complication.
Conclusion No statistically significant differences were found in long-term outcomes or MVD-related
complications among the study groups. The type of offending vessel was not a prognostic
factor for MVD in patients with HFS.
Keywords
hemifacial spasm - microvascular decompression - offending vessel
