Efficacy of Biomedical Glue Sling Technique Versus Traditional Technique for Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm with Refractory Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is useful treatment for hemifacial spasm (HFS) with refractory hypertension (RHTN). The biomedical glue sling technique is a new method for MVD. In this study, we retrospectively compared the outcome of the biomedical glue sling technique with traditional technique in MVD for HFS with RHTN.

METHODS: A retrospective study of HFS with RHTN treated by MVD was conducted between January 2010 and June 2016. Among 155 patients who underwent their first MVD at our institution, traditional technique was performed in 73 cases of patients and the biomedical glue sling technique was performed on 82 patients.

RESULTS: At 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year after MVD surgery, in the traditional technique group the effective rates of MVD for HFS were 86.30%, 84.93%, 87.14%, 84.06%, and 83.33%. The effective rates for RHTN were 68.49%, 67.12%, 65.71%, 57.97%, and 57.58%. The incidence rates of complication were 5.48%, 5.48%, 4.29%, 2.90%, and 3.03%. In the biomedical glue sling technique group, the effective rates of MVD for HFS were 97.56%, 97.56%, 98.75%, 96.15%, and 94.59% (P < 0.05). The effective rates for RHTN were 85.37%, 82.93%, 81.25%, 79.49%, and 75.68% (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of complication were 6.10%, 6.10%, 5.00%, 3.85%, and 2.70% (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: When HFS is associated with RHTN, the efficacy of the biomedical glue sling technique for MVD is higher than that of the traditional technique for both HFS and RHTN.