Comparison of Radiofrequency Ablation and Craniotomy Microvascular Decompression for Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm.
Radiofrequency ablation shows improvement rates similar to microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.
Comparison of Radiofrequency Ablation and Craniotomy Microvascular Decompression for Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm.
Hemifacial spasm (hemifacial spasm) is distinguished by sudden and involuntary spasms of the facial muscles, predominantly on one side of the face.
The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the clinical outcomes and adverse reactions associated with attempts to use radiofrequency ablation and microvascular decompression to manage primary hemifacial spasm.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medical Center, Ningbo, China.
most radiofrequency ablation patients improved, similar to microvascular decompression
One hundred and fifty-eight patients were placed in the R group, and 142 patients were sorted into the M group.
Similarly, in the M group, 85.92% of patients showed improvement, 10.56% experienced relief, and 3.52% experienced treatment failure.
The difference in therapeutic efficacy between the 2 groups was not significant.
However, the M group had significantly lower recurrence rates at 3 months, 6 months, and one year post-operation than the R group did.
The short-term outcome was found to be comparable between the 2 treatment modalities.
Notably, radiofrequency ablation demonstrates both safety and efficacy as a method for managing primary hemifacial spasm; however, the procedure may lead to mild facial paralysis.
In situations during which surgery is contraindicated, especially among elderly or high-risk surgical patients, percutaneous facial nerve radiofrequency ablation at the stylomastoid foramen may be considered as an alternative therapeutic approach.