• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 1997

Background : Hemifacial spasm commonly occurs on muscles about the eye, but may also involve or spread to the entire side of the face. There are many treatment for facial spasm, such as neuro-vascular decompression, local injection of Botulium toxin, facial nerve block at stylomastoid foramen, facial nerve block with O'Brien method. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of facial nerve block with O'Brien method. Methods : Forty five patients with hemifacial spasm were treated by facial nerve block with O'Brien method from January 1996 to February 1997 We reviewed the charts, retrospectively. Results : Sex ratio was 1:1.7(17 male : 28 female patients). Most patients were 40~60 years old. Most patients well tolerated facial nerve block. Three patients failed to respond to the facial nerve block. We repeated the procedure within one week. Among the 45 patients who received nerve block, 35 received repeated block; 7 patients received second repeat block, 2 patients received third repeat block. After successful nerve block, all patients were free of spasm for 1 to 6 months. Average spasm-free period was 3.5 months. Conclusion : Although the spasm-free period was short, these results suggest facial nerve block with O'Brien method is a safe and comfortable method for treatment of facial spasm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 2015

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by unilateral facial nerve dysfunction. The usual cause involves vascular compression of the seventh cranial nerve, but compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve is very unusual. A 20-year-old man presented with left facial spasm that had persisted for 4 years. Compression of the left facial nerve root exit zone by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) was revealed on magnetic resonance angiography. During microvascular decompression surgery, penetration of the distal portion of the facial nerve root exit zone by the AICA was observed. At the penetrating site, the artery was found to have compressed the facial nerve and to be immobilized. The penetrated seventh cranial nerve was longitudinally split about 2 mm. The compressing artery was moved away from the penetrating site and the decompression was secured by inserting Teflon at the operative site. Although the facial spasm disappeared in the immediate postoperative period, the patient continued to show moderate facial weakness. At postoperative 12 months, the facial weakness had improved to a mild degree. Prior to performing microvascular decompression of HFS, surgeons should be aware of a possibility for rare complex anatomy, such as compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve, which cannot be observed by modern imaging techniques.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 1996

Hemifacial spasm commonly occurs in muscles about the eye, but may also involve or spread to the entire side of the face. One hundred and seventy eight patients with hemifacial spasm visited our Neuro-Pain clinic from January 1992 to April 1996. There were 121 female and 57 male patients, a 2.1:1 ratio respectively. Largest percentages of patients were in the 50 year old range. Among them, 96 patients were treated by facial nerve block or O'Brien block. In most cases, induced facial palsy disappeared within one or two months. Among the 96 patients who received nerve block, 46 patients received a second block within 5 to 24 months. The average interval from first and second nerve block was 11.5 months. After nerve block, all patients were free from spasm for 1 to 21 months. We conclude that facial nerve block is a satisfactory and reliable method for the treatment of facial spasm.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.52-57
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• 2013

Objectives: The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of treatment with Hominis Placental pharmacopuncture (HPP) for 32 patients with hemifacial spasm. Methods: We treated facial spasm patients with acupuncture and HPP at Sabaek (ST2), Seung-eup (ST1), Gwallyeo (SI18), Chanjuk (BL2), Sajukgong (TE23), Hagwan (ST7), Hyeopgeo (ST6), Jichang (ST4), Wan-gol (SI4) and Yepung (TE17), and we investigated the effect by using Scott's scale. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS/10.0 for windows program with descriptive statistics, the paired t-test, and the Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Results: After treatment, the grade of the spasm's intensity based on Scott's description were decreased significantly. About 72% of the patients felt that the combination treatment had produced excellent results. Conclusion: These data suggested that HPP can be useful for treating facial spasm patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1994

Twenty seven patients with hemifacial spasm were treated by facial nerve block at the foramen stylomastoideum and O'Brien block from January 1992 to March 1994. There were 16 female and ll male patients, a 1.5:1 ratio respectively. Most patients were 40~60 years old. Among the 27 patients treated by nerve blocks, 26 responded well to the facial nerve block, including two cases of O'Brien block. One patient failed to respond to the facial nerve block. Induced facial palsy disappeared within one or two months within the majority of patients. Among the 26 patients who received nerve block, 6 patients required a second block within 3 to 9 months. After successful nerve block, all patients were free of spasm for 1 to 16 months. Although the follow-up period was short in duration, these results suggest that facial nerve block is a satisfactory and reliable method in the treatment of facial spasm.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.97-110
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• 2023

This review aimed to examine and analyze trends of clinical research using case studies on facial spasms in Korean medicine. Seven web databases were searched for case studies on facial spasms using Korean and English search terms. Case studies were selected using the exclusion and inclusion criteria. Overall, 13 case studies were selected, analyzed, and classified according to the publication year and journal, study participants, cause, treatment methods, pattern identification, evaluation methods, improvement, and side effects. Case studies reporting on various treatment methods in Korean medicine, including acupuncture and pharmacopuncture for facial spasms, have been published since 2000. In addition, studies on new treatment methods in Korean medicine for facial spasm have been published. Combination therapy is the most common method used in Korean medicine-based case studies; therefore, future studies on single treatment are necessary. Most of the case studies on Korean medicine reported improved symptoms and patient satisfaction with the Korean medicine treatment method. No side effects were reported, except for facial swelling and bruising, indicating that Korean medicine treatment methods for facial spasm were safe and effective. Therefore, the Korean medicine treatment methods for facial spasm can be actively used in clinical practice and future research.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.251-254
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• 1993

Hemifacial spasm is a distressing condition characterized by involuntary, intermittent, unilateral twitching of all or parts of the muscles innervated by the facial nerve. This occurrence is most common in middle-aged women. Because etiology of idiopathic hemifacial spasm has remained undefined, no causative agent nor reliable treatment has been established. This report describes a case of CT guided chemical facial nerve block for the treatment of hemifacial spasm. An injection of small amount(0.1 ml) of alcohol(95%) provided relief of the facial spasms.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.124-129
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• 2013

Separating of the facial nerve caused by compression near the blood vessels that cause the blood vessels and surgery when the hemifacial spasm, facial spasms, will disappear. These impacts have occurred very rarely and seen in this paper as facial spasms due to a brain tumor. The size of a brain tumor grows, which will put pressure on the surrounding facial spasm. Treated hemifacial spasm symptoms disappear through the removal of a brain tumor that occurs because saw.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 1997

Hemifacial spasm is a distressing condition characterized by involuntary, intermittent, unilateral twitching of, all or parts, of the muscles innervated by facial nerve. This ailment is most common among middle-aged women. Neither causative agent nor reliable treatment has been established because etiology of idiopathic hemifacial spasm has remained undefined to date. This report describes two cases of hemifacial spasm treatment by injection of Botulinum toxin. An injection of Botulinum toxin provided relief of hemi facial spasm. Botulinum toxin therapy is an effective and convenient treatment of hemifacialspasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.82-85
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• 1995

Hemifacial spasm is a distressing condition characterized clinically by paroxysmal and an involuntary movement in muscles innervated by the facial nerve on one side of the face. Blockade of the facial nerve can be performed percutaneously, without any serious complications. There are certain clinical problems associated with the conventional procedure, such as severe pain and technical difficulties to find facial nerve. This report describes a fluoroscope guided facial nerve block. This new technique reduced the difficulties in identifying the facial nerve and decreased the suffering associated with the conventional way of facial nerve block.