[Treatment of blepharospasm and facial hemispasm with botulinum toxin. Apropos of 58 injections in 22 patients]. 1994

D Elbaz
ORL, Paris.

Through this analysis we shall report our experience about botulinum toxin in view of relieving blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. Many Treatments have been tested with very inconstant often deceptive and sometimes even dangerous results. The present method gives us the possibility to paralyze the spasmed muscles by direct injection into the muscle. After 58 ambulatory injections, 53 effective results were obtained with complete spasm relief for a mean internal of 4 to 5 months. No systemic effect was noticed, but some transient ophthalmic incidents occurred: they can be avoided by simple technical precautions. In hemifacial spasm, the orbicularis eyelid muscle seems to be the "spasm starter" and its unique injection by toxin can often relieve the whole hemiface. This simple method appears remarkably effective, although its duration is limited to a few months; but the injections can be conveniently repeated. However, this technique has to be carefully performed by experienced physicians. It is extremely regrettable to see the enormous price increase of toxin within the last years. This limits a larger use for patients good health.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007273 Injections, Intramuscular Forceful administration into a muscle of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the muscle and any tissue covering it. Intramuscular Injections,Injection, Intramuscular,Intramuscular Injection
D008297 Male Males
D001764 Blepharospasm Excessive winking; tonic or clonic spasm of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Blepharospasms
D001905 Botulinum Toxins Toxic proteins produced from the species CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM. The toxins are synthesized as a single peptide chain which is processed into a mature protein consisting of a heavy chain and light chain joined via a disulfide bond. The botulinum toxin light chain is a zinc-dependent protease which is released from the heavy chain upon ENDOCYTOSIS into PRESYNAPTIC NERVE ENDINGS. Once inside the cell the botulinum toxin light chain cleaves specific SNARE proteins which are essential for secretion of ACETYLCHOLINE by SYNAPTIC VESICLES. This inhibition of acetylcholine release results in muscular PARALYSIS. Botulin,Botulinum Neurotoxin,Botulinum Neurotoxins,Clostridium botulinum Toxins,Botulinum Toxin,Neurotoxin, Botulinum,Neurotoxins, Botulinum,Toxin, Botulinum,Toxins, Botulinum,Toxins, Clostridium botulinum
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
D005158 Facial Paralysis Severe or complete loss of facial muscle motor function. This condition may result from central or peripheral lesions. Damage to CNS motor pathways from the cerebral cortex to the facial nuclei in the pons leads to facial weakness that generally spares the forehead muscles. FACIAL NERVE DISEASES generally results in generalized hemifacial weakness. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION DISEASES and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause facial paralysis or paresis. Facial Palsy,Hemifacial Paralysis,Facial Palsy, Lower Motor Neuron,Facial Palsy, Upper Motor Neuron,Facial Paralysis, Central,Facial Paralysis, Peripheral,Facial Paresis,Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Upper Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Central Facial Paralyses,Central Facial Paralysis,Facial Palsies,Facial Paralyses, Central,Facial Paralyses, Peripheral,Palsies, Facial,Palsy, Facial,Paralyses, Central Facial,Paralyses, Facial,Paralyses, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Central Facial,Paralysis, Facial,Paralysis, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Peripheral Facial,Pareses, Facial,Paresis, Facial,Peripheral Facial Paralysis
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013035 Spasm An involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Spasms may involve SKELETAL MUSCLE or SMOOTH MUSCLE. Muscle Spasm,Muscular Spasm,Spasm, Ciliary Body,Spasm, Generalized,Ciliary Body Spasm,Ciliary Body Spasms,Generalized Spasm,Generalized Spasms,Muscle Spasms,Muscular Spasms,Spasm, Muscle,Spasm, Muscular,Spasms,Spasms, Ciliary Body,Spasms, Generalized,Spasms, Muscle,Spasms, Muscular
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

Related Publications

D Elbaz
January 1988, Journal francais d'ophtalmologie,
D Elbaz
January 2004, Ceska a slovenska oftalmologie : casopis Ceske oftalmologicke spolecnosti a Slovenske oftalmologicke spolecnosti,
D Elbaz
January 1987, Bulletin des societes d'ophtalmologie de France,
D Elbaz
January 2023, Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery,
D Elbaz
January 1991, International ophthalmology clinics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!