• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.352-355
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• 2001

The authors report two cases of familial hemifacial spasm according to the clinical and three dimensional shortrange magnetic resonance angiography(3D-SRMRA) findings. In the family of the first case, there were five patient's with acquired hemifacial spasm in successive generations. Three male and two female patients in successive generations of the same family developed acquired hemifacial spasm. Four patients were on the left side and one was on the right side. In the family of the second case, there were three patient's with acquired hemifacial spasm in successive generations. Two brothers developed left-sided hemifacial spasm. 3D-SRMRA finding of the probands demonstrated that both anterior inferior cerebellar artery in first case and anterior inferior cerebellar artery & vertebral artery in second case offend the 7th cranial nerve respectively. The presence of familial clustering of these rare disorders suggest an underlying genetic predisposition. All family pedigrees suggest that a pattern of autosomal-dominant inheritance with partial penetrance.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.62-64
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• 2013

Hemifacial spasm is defined as unilateral, involuntary, irregular twitching of all or parts of the muscles innervated by facial nerves. Here, we present a case of recurrent hemifacial spasm after microvascular decompression (MVD) treated with pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment with good results. A 35-year-old woman suffered from recurrent hemifacial spasm after MVD that was refractory to medical treatment and botulinum toxin injections. We attempted a left facial nerve block twice. Then, we applied PRF at a maximum temperature of $42^{\circ}C$ for 120 sec. Some response was observed, so we applied PRF two additional times. The frequency of twitch decreased from 3-4 Hz to < 0.5 Hz, and subjective severity on a visual analogue scale also decreased from 10/10 to 2-3/10. PRF treatment might be an effective medical treatment for refractory hemifacial spasm and has fewer complications and is less invasive compared with those of surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.104-106
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• 2006

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is a rare self-limiting disease that's characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia. It has a relapsing and remitting course, and the pain responds promptly to systemic corticosteroid therapy. Yet it is diagnosed by the exclusion of other major causes involving the superior orbital fissure or cavernous sinus, including trauma, neoplasm, aneurysm and inflammation. Further, the associated ophthalmoplegia may follow days to weeks after the onset of orbital or hemifacial pain. Hence, this condition is often misdiagnosed as atypical facial pain, and so improper management could result in unnecessary suffering of the patient. The following case describes a patient suffering with hemifacial pain associated with ipsilateral abducens nerve palsy, which was evident 2 weeks after the onset of pain, and this was misdiagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain.

• 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.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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.423-425
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• 1996

Tic convulsif is a syndrome restricted to paroxysmal dysfunction of the fifth and seventh cranial nerves. It occurs predominantly in women over the age of 50 years and is usually associated with an ectatic vertebrobasilar artery - less frequently an arteriovenous malformation or cholesteatoma - which compresses the trigeminal and facial nerve roots in the postetior fossa. In rare instances this syndrome may be caused by brain tumor. Because of the high incidence of posterior fossa lesions in painful tic convulsif, a complete neurological evaluation including computerised transaxial tomography should be performed in every case. We experienced a case of trigeminal neuralgia(mandibular division)and contralateral hemifacial spasm.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.