Hemifacial spasm: The past, present and future

Abstract

Hemifacial spasm is characterised by unilateral contractions of the facial muscles. Though considered to be benign by many people, it can lead to functional blindness and a poor quality of life due to social embarrassment for the suffering individual. Botulinum toxin therapy is an excellent noninvasive tool to treat this condition. However, surgical decompression of the aberrant vessel is also an upcoming approach to therapy for this condition.

Keywords: Botulinum toxin therapy; Differential diagnosis; Hemifacial spasm; Movement disorder; Pathogenesis; Review; Surgical treatment.