hemifacial spasm

Etiology

• facial nerve injury
  • commonly blood vessel pressing on the facial nerve
• tumor
• idiopathic

Epidemiology

• occurs in both men and women
• frequently affects middle-aged or elderly women

Clinical manifestations

• frequent involuntary contractions of the muscles on one side of the face
• unilateral blepharospasm is generally the first sign
• spasm may gradually spread to involve muscles of the lower face, which may cause the mouth to be pulled to one side
• eventually the spasms involve all of the muscles on one side of the face almost continuously

Management

• botulinum toxin (Botox) injection into the affected muscles
• surgery may be used for some cases
• prognosis
  • depends on etiology
  • a benign condition if resulting from benign etiology

More general terms

• muscle spasm

Patient information

hemifacial spasm patient information