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Electrophysiological determination of the site involved in generating abnormal muscle responses in hemifacial spasm
Author(s) -
Tankéré Frédéric,
Maisonobe Thierry,
Lamas Georges,
Soudant Jacques,
Bouche Pierre,
Fournier Emmanuel,
Willer Jean Claude
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199808)21:8<1013::aid-mus5>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - hemifacial spasm , facial nerve , facial muscles , palsy , electrophysiology , medicine , bell's palsy , anatomy , electromyography , facial paralysis , neuroscience , psychology , surgery , pathology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , alternative medicine
In patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS), abnormal muscle responses due to abnormal cross‐transmission are observed in facial muscles. However, the site in the facial nerve responsible for the cross‐transmission remains a matter of controversy. We have developed a model in which by considering the electrophysiological parameters involved in producing the abnormal muscle response, we can determine the site of the abnormal cross‐transmission within the facial nerve. This model was applied to HFS patients with three different etiologies: idiopathic, post‐Bell's palsy, and post‐XII‐VII anastomosis. Our data show that: in idiopathic HFS, the cross‐transmission may occur in the facial nerve at the level of the pontocerebellar angle; in post‐Bell's palsy, it is inside the petrous bone; and in XII‐VII anastomosis, it must be in the extracranial part of the facial nerve. The possible mechanisms for this cross talk are discussed in terms of ephaptic transmission or of a central hyperexcitability in the facial motor nucleus. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:1013–1018, 1998.