Abstract
Objective
This study aims to retrospectively analyze the effectiveness of the interposition and transposition methods in treating hemifacial spasm (HFS) caused by prolonged dilatation of the vertebrobasilar artery (VBD).
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis on 102 patients hospitalized between January 2017 and March 2020, diagnosed with VBD-associated HFS. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the surgical method applied: the interposition group (N = 63) and the transposition group (N = 39). Parameters such as general clinical data, intraoperative findings, immediate and long-term postoperative outcomes, as well as complications, were compared between the two groups.
Results
The interposition group showed an immediate postoperative curative ratio of 87.3%, efficacy of 96.8%, and a long-term curative ratio of 98.4%. Conversely, the transposition group exhibited an immediate postoperative curative ratio of 89.7%, efficacy of 97.4%, and a long-term curative ratio of 97.4%. After a three-year follow-up conducted either in outpatient settings or via telephone, the recurrence rates for the interposition and transposition groups were 6.3% and 7.7% respectively. No significant statistical difference was noted between the two groups in terms of immediate curative ratios, efficacy, long-term curative ratios, recurrence ratios, and complications (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
The transposition method emerges as a reliable alternative when the interposition method does not yield satisfactory results in treating HFS caused by VBD, ensuring secure and effective surgical decompression for treating HFS.