Hemifacial spasm: early postoperative normalization of blink reflex latency

Abstract

Electrophysiological improvement in the blink reflex latency after neurovascular decompression of the facial nerve in patients with hemifacial spasm is believed to be related to remyelination and occurs 2-8 months after surgery. We report a patient with hemifacial spasms for 3 years, in whom the increased blink reflex latency returned to normal within a week after surgery. This suggests that compression without demyelination may be responsible for increased blink reflex latency in some of the patients with hemifacial spasms.

Key Words:

• Hemifacial spasm
• increased blink reflex latency
• facial nerve compression