Monitoring of Facial Evoked EMG for Hemifacial Spasm: a Critical Analysis of its Prognostic Value

Microvascular decompression (MVD) has come to stay as an effective way of treating hemifacial spasm. But it remains to be seen how much each of the electrophysiological monitoring techniques (intra-operative) are contributing to its increased efficacy. Their role as indicators for re-exploration or recurrence is to be evaluated with more studies. We have used the lateral spread response in those patients who had distinctly abnormal recording on the ipsilateral side, studied the intra-operative changes during MVD and correlated with the outcome of surgery.