Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm with Botulinum Toxin

Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm: The authors reply

Botulinum toxin A (BTA) is considered an effective treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, but there are few studies to permit a comparison of its different formulations. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study compared Prosigne, a BTA of Chinese origin, with Botox to establish safety, efficacy, and equivalence of doses between those 2 formulations in blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm treatment. Fifty-seven patients participated in this study: 21 blepharospasm (from whom 11 were treated with Botox; and 10, with Prosigne) and 36 hemifacial spasm patients (17 were treated with Botox; and 19, with Prosigne). All patients were similar in age, disease time span, number of previous shots, and time elapsed since the last BTA application. Pain and burning during the injection and the result of the treatment were similar in both groups. There were no systemic adverse events, and the local ones were observed with similar intensity and frequency for both groups. The mean effect time length was similar for both blepharospasm (11.3 weeks for both toxins) and hemifacial spasm patients (12.8 weeks for Botox and 12.9 weeks for Prosigne). In both blepharospasm groups, only the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey emotional aspects domain showed improvement from baseline after 16 weeks. There were no differences between the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores before and after the treatment of all hemifacial spasm patients. Therefore, it has been concluded that Botox and Prosigne have similar efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles, so that a dose equivalence of 1:1 may be considered for blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm treatments.

Conclusion: Wider-area botulinum toxin (BT) injection with the dosage depending on specific pathology is a promising approach for the treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS), resulting in effective and long-lasting control of HFS with fewer side-effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a BT injection strategy that minimizes complications by considering the causes, duration, and electrophysiologic features of the disease, as well as the patient’s age. Methods: From July 2011 to July 2015, 26 patients were included in the strategy. The mean age was 61.8 ± 14.6. In the case of essential HFS, 2 units/injection site was the standard dosage. If a patient was aged over 60 and had a reduced electromyogram (EMG) amplitude, the dosage was reduced by 0.5 units/site. In the case of post-paralytic and tumor-induced HFS, 1.5 units/site was the standard dosage. All cases were managed by alternating injections of Botox and Dysport with no physical therapy. Results: Most HFS patients treated with the injection strategy had complete remission of HFS within 1 week. The average number of BT injection sites was 22.6 ± 6.7. The mean total BT dosage on the affected side was 28.6 ± 4.9 units. The mean duration of BT efficacy was 28.6 ± 7.7 weeks.

Background: Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections are accepted as safe and efficacious in the treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS), but it is still debated whether BTX treatment of lower facial muscles should be performed or not. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the necessity of BTX administration into lower facial muscles in patients with HFS. Methods: A randomized, single-blind, crossover, clinical trial was conducted. Twenty-three HFS patients were randomly allocated to two different application methods. The patients were administered BTX type A into both the orbicularis oculi and perioral muscles in the first method and BTX type A into the orbicularis oculi but placebo into the perioral muscles in the second method. Subjects were crossed over to the alternate method when they needed BTX injection with a minimum of 3 months’ duration. All the patients underwent both methods with no change in the total dose of BTX. Results: All the patients benefited from BTX treatment regardless of the methods. However, in the patients with severe lower facial muscle involvement, the application of BTX into both orbicularis oculi and lower facial muscles led to better results. Conclusion: Our data suggest that BTX application to lower facial muscles might not be necessary in patients with mild lower facial involvement.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a disease causing abnormal movement of the face. Treatment with a botulinum toxin injection is effective. Original botulinum toxin is expensive, particularly in developing countries. We evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of generic botulinum toxin in HFS patients. A 16-week, open labeled, prospective study to evaluate Neuronox® treatment at HFS clinic, Khon Kaen University hospital, Thailand was carried out. Peak improvement (PI), time to PI (TPI), and duration of response period (D) were reported by patients every 4 weeks. In total, 50 HFS patients participated in the study; 30 new and 20 previously diagnosed patients. Two patients did not response to Neuronox® treatment; one in each group. For those who responded to Neuronox® treatment, the mean PI, TPI, and D was 73.44%, 9.44 weeks, and 15 weeks, respectively. The PI, TPI, and D were not statistically different between new and previously diagnosed patients. Ptosis and facial paresis were the common side effects and mostly occurred in the first 4 weeks. Treatment of HFS by generic Neuronox® botulinum toxin is an effective alternative treatment with similar rate of side effects to original botulinum toxin. It may be preferable in countries with limited healthcare resources. Key words: Hemifacial spasm, Neuronox®, botulinum toxin, efficacy, side effects.

Botulinum toxin is an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm in elderly patients. However, some patients do not tolerate the side effects and frequency of botulinum toxin treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of elderly patients referred by neurologists for surgical decompression of the facial nerve following botulinum toxin treatment. In a prospective cohort study, logistic regression was used to detect potential predictors of spasm-freedom after surgical decompression of the facial nerve in elderly patients that received ≤8 and >8 botulinum toxin treatments for hemifacial spasm before surgery. Age, sex, side, preoperative symptom duration, and preoperative botulinum toxin treatment were assessed as potential predictors of spasm-freedom at last follow-up. Of 76 elderly patients with hemifacial spasm treated with botulinum toxin and microvascular decompression, with at least 2-years of follow-up (median, 44.5 months), 84.2% were spasm-free at last follow-up. Age (P = 0.38), sex (P = 0.59), side (P = 0.15), preoperative symptom duration (P = 0.7), and number of preoperative botulinum toxin treatments (P = 0.3) were not predictors of long-term spasm-freedom. Permanent ipsilateral hearing loss was the most frequent complication (3.9%). This study provides evidence that elderly patients can undergo botulinum toxin treatment for hemifacial spasm without compromising their likelihood of achieving spasm-freedom with future surgical decompression. Therefore, surgical decompression of the facial nerve is an effective therapy for elderly patients with hemifacial spasm refractory to botulinum toxin.

The effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in 11 patients with hemifacial spasm was investigated in a prospective placebo-controlled blinded study. The patients were treated with four sets of injections to various facial muscles, selected by clinical evaluation. Three injections were with graded doses of toxin and one was with placebo. The order of injections was random and unknown to the patients. Results were scored both subjectively by patient assessment of symptoms and objectively by blinded review of videotapes made one month after each injection. Subjective improvement occurred after 79% of injections with botulinum toxin, regardless of dose of toxin. Only 1 patient improved after placebo. Objective improvement was seen after 84% of injections with botulinum toxin. No patient showed objective improvement after placebo injection. The most frequent side effect was facial weakness, seen after 97% of injections of botulinum toxin. Facial bruising (20%), diplopia (13%), ptosis (7%), and various other mild side effects were seen less frequently. Botulinum toxin appears to be an effective and safe method of therapy for hemifacial spasm.

Introduction: Hemi facial spasm (HFS) and Blepharospasm (BS) is a chronic distressing condition. Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection is one of its treatment modality. Acquiring the injection and treating the patients overcoming the lockdown hurdles of COVID pandemic has been a major challenge.
 Methods: Patients who were treated at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Outpatient Department (OPD) during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021 were included in this study.
 Results: Out of 30 patients, 77% were female. 47% were diagnosed with BS whereas the rest with HFS. About 50% of them have had symptoms for an average of 2-5 years before receiving botulinum toxin injection. The mean Jankovic score for patients before BoNT was 2.31(SD: 0.66 range 1-4). 26 patients experienced a decrease in spasm within one week of BoNT injection and had symptomatic relief. The mean Jankovic score at week 1 was 0.63(SD: 1.09 range 1-3) and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). After 2 weeks of BoNT therapy, all patients experienced a decrease in spasm with symptomatic improvement. The mean Jankovic score at week 2 was 0.26(SD: 0.44 range 0-1) and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). In terms of side effects, 4 patients experienced paresis while 26 patients experienced no side effects. No other systemic side effects were reported.
 Conclusion: BoNT injection has a good outcome for HFS and BS, despite its cost and the need for frequent injection. Importing the BoNT from India during the lockdown period of COVID pandemic and patients travelling within the country were challenges that were faced by the patients and doctors to achieve the result.

To evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of hemifacial spasm. Twenty-three patients with hemifacial spasm not suitable for surgery or therapy with botulinum toxin were treated with gabapentin. The main efficacy parameter was the percentage of spasm reduction. A clinically significant reduction of spasms was obtained by 16 patients. Gabapentin was effective and safe in reducing hemifacial spasm in 16 out 23 (69.6%) patients.

The management of oromandibular motor disorders and facial spasms with injections of botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin(BTX)treatment is the first-line neurological treatment for hemifacial spasm(HFS). In my neurology clinic, Clinique Kita Neurologique(CKN), I have provided a cumulative total of approximately 400 BTX treatments for approximately 50 HFS patients for 23 years. Based on my own practical clinical experience, I have demonstrated the efficacy of BTX treatment. In compressive HFS, BTX treatment is indicated in patients who are not indicated or unwilling to undergo neurodecompression surgery. This is also indicated in the case of a long waiting period before surgery. In postparetic HFS, BTX treatment is indicated in patients with spasm and synkinesia. The amount of each BTX injection in postparetic HFS should be less than that in compressive HFS because of latent facial paresis. Although BTX injections can be easily administered in neurology outpatient clinics, it is important to perform the procedure safely and promptly.

Botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of hemifacial spasm over 16 years

Childhood-Onset Hemifacial Spasm: Successful Treatment With Botulinum Toxin

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a chronic disease that is characterized by involuntary tonic and clonic contractions of the muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Botulinum toxin (BTX) is the most effective medical treatment of this condition. The aim of our study was to evaluate stigma among patients diagnosed with HFS and to search quality of life and depression before and after BTX injection. Seven self-rating items (HFS-7) and seven questions related to stigmatization were administered to HFS patients. Participants also answered SF-36 health outcome measure and Beck depression inventory before and 4weeks after the routine BTX injection. The severity of HFS was graded based on a five-point scale. Descriptive statistics and paired t test were applied. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Fourty HFS patients were prospectively included. Twenty-one (%52.5) were female and nineteen were male (47.5%) with a mean age of 57.1 (SD = 12.13; min-max = 27-78). 60% (n: 24) of patients were feeling themselves different from people without HFS. Beck depression inventory scores improved after BTX injection significantly (p < 0.05). All domains of SF-36 showed positive improvement after BTX injections. The improvement in general health perception, physical functioning, and vitality was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although more than half of the patients felt themselves different from people without HFS, treatment of HFS with BTX significantly improved mental health and physical health, and depressive symptoms of the patients.

Thirty-two patients with hemifacial spasm were treated with 61 botulinum toxin (BT) injections. Some patients had post-BT lower facial paresis (LFP+group) while others did not suffer this side effect (LFP-group). Abnormal electromyography (EMG) recordings were more frequent in the LFP+ group (6/11) than in the LFP- group (3/21; p < 0.05). This result suggests that an EMG performed before any BT injection could detect the patients with a higher risk for this side effect. The first dose of BT might be lowered in such cases.