Table 2. Results of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm*.
| Hemifacial spasm | Overall: 320 patients | |
| Sex distribution | Men: 120 | Women: 200 |
| Mean age (range) | 54.89 years (22–81 years) | |
| Mean duration of symptoms | 7.84 years (1–35 years) | |
| Follow-up (FU) |
Immediately after surgery (320 patients) |
FU >12 months (201 patients) |
| – No spasms | 178 (55.63%) | 156 (77.61%) |
| – Spasms reduced by 90% | 53 (16.56%) | 22 (10.95%) |
| – Spasms reduced by 50% | 62 (19.38%) | 20 (9.95%) |
| – No improvement | 27 (8.44%) | 3 (1.49%) |
| Morbidity (in a total of 339 operations) | ||
| Transient | Permanent | |
| Vertigo | 11 (3.2%) | 2 (0.6%) |
| Partial hearing loss | 34 (10%) | 8 (2.4%) |
| Deafness | 9 (2.7%) | 9 (2.7%) |
| Facial palsy (immediate) due to surgical manipulation | 5 (1.5%) | 2 (0.6%, mild) |
| Facial palsy arising after a delay of >10 days | 22 (6.5%) | 1 (0.3%, mild) |
* Results from the authors’ own series of microvascular decompression surgery in 320 patients with hemifacial spasm (a total of 339 operations, including 19 second procedures because of inadequate initial relief or because of recurrence). The relief of spasms immediately after surgery and on late follow-up (>12 months) is shown, as is the frequency of transient and permanent morbidity on the affected side