Hemifacial Spasm

This condition presents with spontaneous twitching of the face. This is caused when a blood vessel pulsates against the seventh cranial nerve in the brainstem. Other conditions that has similar symptoms is blepharospasm and focal dystonia. It is important to define that exact syndrome as the treatment is vastly different.

Hemifacial spasm as caused by a vessel compressing the facial nerve is treated like Trigeminal neuralgia. Unfortunately Tegretol treatment is not very effective. Surgery is very effective and has a high cure rate. This is also done by performing a craniotomy and positioning a Teflon patch between the vessel and the nerve.