Selective facial neurectomy for spastic disorders of the facial nerve. 1985

G J Spector

Selective facial neurectomy in combination with bilateral musculocutaneous resection, plication brow lift, upper lid blepharoplasty, and limited rhytidectomy was performed on 18 patients with essential blepharospasm, eight with hemifacial spasm, and two with CNS vascular compression malformations. Microscopy showed the nerve tissues to be normal. Initial results were excellent. At 3 months there was a slight, persistent spastic twitching of the affected muscles in five nerves (a 14% failure rate in correcting blepharospasm). After 13 months there were four additional failures resulting from nerve regrowth in three and from one patient not completing therapy. The overall blepharospasm failure rate was 26%. On repeat neurectomy those with nerve regrowth presented with a diffuse, fine meshwork of nerve fibers reinnervating the mimetic facial musculature. In six of seven patients operated on again, spasticity was eliminated. The initial surgical failure rate has been corrected by resecting the frontal branch and the superior division of the buccal branch of the facial nerve. Only repeat neurectomy can correct long-term failures resulting from facial nerve regrowth.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008722 Methods A series of steps taken in order to conduct research. Techniques,Methodological Studies,Methodological Study,Procedures,Studies, Methodological,Study, Methodological,Method,Procedure,Technique
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001764 Blepharospasm Excessive winking; tonic or clonic spasm of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Blepharospasms
D005152 Facial Muscles Muscles of facial expression or mimetic muscles that include the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Mimetic Muscles,Facial Muscle,Mimetic Muscle,Muscle, Facial,Muscle, Mimetic,Muscles, Facial,Muscles, Mimetic
D005154 Facial Nerve The 7th cranial nerve. The facial nerve has two parts, the larger motor root which may be called the facial nerve proper, and the smaller intermediate or sensory root. Together they provide efferent innervation to the muscles of facial expression and to the lacrimal and SALIVARY GLANDS, and convey afferent information for TASTE from the anterior two-thirds of the TONGUE and for TOUCH from the EXTERNAL EAR. Cranial Nerve VII,Marginal Mandibular Branch,Marginal Mandibular Nerve,Seventh Cranial Nerve,Nerve VII,Nerve of Wrisberg,Nervus Facialis,Nervus Intermedius,Nervus Intermedius of Wrisberg,Cranial Nerve VIIs,Cranial Nerve, Seventh,Facial Nerves,Mandibular Nerve, Marginal,Mandibular Nerves, Marginal,Marginal Mandibular Nerves,Nerve VIIs,Nerve, Facial,Nerve, Marginal Mandibular,Nerve, Seventh Cranial,Nerves, Marginal Mandibular,Nervus Faciali,Seventh Cranial Nerves,Wrisberg Nerve,Wrisberg Nervus Intermedius
D005155 Facial Nerve Diseases Diseases of the facial nerve or nuclei. Pontine disorders may affect the facial nuclei or nerve fascicle. The nerve may be involved intracranially, along its course through the petrous portion of the temporal bone, or along its extracranial course. Clinical manifestations include facial muscle weakness, loss of taste from the anterior tongue, hyperacusis, and decreased lacrimation. Acquired Facial Neuropathy,Cranial Nerve VII Diseases,Facial Myokymia,Facial Neuropathy,Geniculate Ganglionitis,Cranial Nerve VII Disorders,Facial Nerve Disorders,Facial Nerve Motor Disorders,Facial Nerve Sensory Disorders,Facial Neuritis,Familial Facial Neuropathy,Motor Disorders, Facial Nerve,Sensory Disorders, Facial Nerve,Seventh Cranial Nerve Diseases,Acquired Facial Neuropathies,Disease, Facial Nerve,Diseases, Facial Nerve,Disorder, Facial Nerve,Disorders, Facial Nerve,Facial Myokymias,Facial Nerve Disease,Facial Nerve Disorder,Facial Neuritides,Facial Neuropathies,Facial Neuropathies, Acquired,Facial Neuropathies, Familial,Facial Neuropathy, Acquired,Facial Neuropathy, Familial,Familial Facial Neuropathies,Ganglionitides, Geniculate,Ganglionitis, Geniculate,Geniculate Ganglionitides,Myokymia, Facial,Myokymias, Facial,Neuritides, Facial,Neuritis, Facial,Neuropathies, Facial,Neuropathies, Familial Facial,Neuropathy, Facial,Neuropathy, Familial Facial
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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