Macrovascular causes underlying otoneurological disturbances

Hemifacial spasm and postural abnormalities; clinical and posturographical analyses

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is defined as an involuntary, irregular clonic, or tonic movement of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral seventh cranial nerve. It is reported that the coexistence of non-motor- and motor-related symptoms can be seen in patients with HFS. Postural disturbances were investigated in some movement disorders; however, postural abnormalities due to HFS had not been reported before. In this study, we aimed to investigate the postural abnormalities in patients with HFS. In this cross-sectional, controlled study, Tinetti Balance and Gait Test (TBGT) scores and static posturography were performed on fifteen patients with HFS and fifteen healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The total TBGT score and TBGT-balance score were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p values were, respectively, 0.046 and 0.011). The ratio of the patients with high risk of falling was 40 %, and the difference was found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p value = 0.008). In Fourier analyses, a significant difference was found in the medium to high frequencies (F5-6) when the posturographic evaluation was performed on a solid ground with closed eyes, head rotated to right, and head rotated to the left positions (p values were, respectively, 0.045 and 0.007). The stability index of the HFS group was significantly higher than the control group when tested on the neutral, head right, and head left positions (p values were, respectively, 0.004, 0.049, and 0.003). In conclusion, our study showed that the patients with HFS have more balance and falling problems than the controls, which can be both clinically and posturographically determined.

Microvascular decompression of cochleovestibular nerve

The role of microvascular decompression (MVD) in the management of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasms and glossopharyngeal neuralgia is well-established. However, controversy persisted as to the use of MVD in cochleovestibular neurovascular compression syndrome. This report provides a review of all the published studies on MVD of the eighth (8th) nerve in alleviating cochleovestibular symptoms and presents three additional patients who underwent MVD of the eighth nerve for tinnitus or vertigo. Nineteen studies were identified. Five were case reports. The remaining have sample sizes ranging from 4 to 207 patients. Quantitative and qualitative reviews of all studies were performed, focusing on the selection criteria for surgery, efficacy and safety of the procedure. Selection criteria for surgery were variable. No standardised outcome measures were used and all studies rely on patient subjective assessment of surgical outcome. Nonetheless, the results suggest that MVD of the eighth nerve produces good outcome with low morbidity in selected cases.

Vaskuläre Erkrankungen des Kleinhirnbrückenwinkels

Vascular anomalies of the cerebellopontine angle are rare compared to tumors in this area. Irritation of the trigeminal, facial, or vestibulocochlear nerve may cause trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and vertigo, or tinnitus accordingly. Vessel loops in the cerebellopontine cisterns may cause compression at the root entry or exit zone of the cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII, a phenomenon which is called "vascular loop syndrome." Megadolichobasilar artery and aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar system can also lead to dislocation and compression of the cranial nerves and brain stem. Three-dimensional CISS MR imaging and MR angiography are useful in the detection of neurovascular compression. Microvascular decompression is an effective surgical procedure in the management of compression syndromes of the cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII.

The effect of lidocaine on chronic tinnitus: a quantitative cerebral perfusion study

The cerebral perfusion of a 55-year-old female patient with chronic tinnitus was investigated quantitatively by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with the xenon133 inhalation method. The first investigation was performed under standard conditions, the second during suppression of tinnitus with intravenous injection of lidocaine. As a reference a healthy volunteer was included under the same conditions. The global cortical perfusion was identical on both sides except for increased perfusion in the auditory cortex, especially on the right side when tinnitus lasted during the first measurement. The second investigation under treatment with lidocaine and during the tinnitus-free interval showed a decrease of the global cortical perfusion with a slightly higher value at the temporal cortex bilaterally. In comparison to the first investigation, a difference between right and left auditory cortex could no longer be demonstrated, and also the difference between regional and global perfusion decreased. A cerebral effect under treatment of tinnitus with lidocaine was shown by the quantitative measurement of brain perfusion. It is debatable whether this effect on cerebral activity results from the medication or as a reaction to the tinnitus-free interval.

Hemifacial spasm: clinical findings and treatment

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a peripherally induced movement disorder characterized by involuntary, unilateral, intermittent, irregular, tonic or clonic contractions of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. We reviewed the clinical features and response to different treatments in 158 patients (61% women) with HFS evaluated at our Movement Disorders Clinic. The mean age at onset was 48.5+/-14.1 years (range: 15-87) and the mean duration of symptoms was 11.4+/-8.5 (range: 0.5-53) years. The left side was affected in 56% instances; 5 patients had bilateral HFS. The lower lid was the most common site of the initial involvement followed by cheek and perioral region. Involuntary eye closure which interfered with vision and social embarrassment were the most common complaints. HFS was associated with trigeminal neuralgia in 5.1% of the cases and 5.7% had prior history of Bell's palsy. Although vascular abnormalities, facial nerve injury, and intracranial tumor were responsible for symptoms in some patients, most patients had no apparent etiology. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections, used in 110 patients, provided marked to moderate improvement in 95% of patients. Seven of the 25 (28%) patients who had microvascular decompression reported permanent complications and the HFS recurred in 5 (20%). Although occasionally troublesome, HFS is generally a benign disorder that can be treated effectively with either BTX-A or microvascular decompression.