Outcomes of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm at the Philippine General Hospital.

Gerardo D LEGASPI; Lady Scarlette P SEDANO; Juan Silvestre G PASCUAL

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Outcomes of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm at the Philippine General Hospital.

Author: Gerardo D. LEGASPI ¹ ; Lady Scarlette P. SEDANO ¹ ; Juan Silvestre G. PASCUAL ¹
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1. Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
Publication Type:Journal Article, Original
Keywords: Retrospective Review
MeSH: Human; Microvascular Decompression Surgery; Hemifacial Spasm
From: Acta Medica Philippina 2025;59(13):22-32
CountryPhilippines
Abstract: OBJECTIVE
To report the demographics, clinical characteristics, and surgical outcomes after microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
METHODS
Between January 2018 to December 2022, the division of Neurosurgery at PGH performed thirty-four MVD operations for Primary HFS. Records were retrospectively reviewed, and pertinent demographic, intra-operative findings, outcomes, and complications were analyzed.
RESULTS
The overall success rate is 88.2%, with a median follow-up at 15 months. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that post-op HFS and follow-up HFS grades were significantly lower than pre-op HFS grades (F=17.46, df=33, p < 0.0001). HFS average age of symptom onset was early at 38.5 years, 11.8% of which wereCONCLUSION
MVD at PGH is a viable choice treatment option for Filipino patients with success rates comparable to internationally published studies. Besides improving surgical technique, improvement of referral systems may help make surgery more accessible.