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September 10, 2025

Fully Endoscopic Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm Using 2-Dimensional/3-Dimensional Endoscopy: Clinical Analysis of 204 Cases

Key Points

Endoscopic microvascular decompression achieved cessation or significant reduction of spasms in 198 out of 204 patients.
The success rates for reduction of spasms in early, middle, and late surgery groups were 95.6%, 97.1%, and 98.5%, respectively.
Complications included facial weakness and hearing loss, but most patients recovered before discharge.
The use of 3D endoscopy enhanced vision and depth perception, facilitating the surgery despite its higher cost.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) is commonly conducted under a microscope. We report a large series of fully endoscopic MVDs for HFS and describe our initial experience with 3-dimensional (3D) endoscopy. METHODS: Clinical data of 204 patients with HFS who underwent fully endoscopic MVD using 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D endoscopy (191 and 13 patients, respectively) from July 2017 to October 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to timing of surgery within the study period: early, middle, and late. The mean follow-up was 20.4 months (range, 3-87). RESULTS: At last follow-up, surgery had achieved cessation or significant reduction of spasms in 198 patients (97.1%). Complications immediately after surgery were as follows: facial weakness, 7 patients; hearing loss, 11 patients; tinnitus, 1 patient; infection, 1 patient; dysphagia, 1 patient; and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 1 patient. The patients who experienced infection, dysphagia, and leakage recovered before discharge. Ten patients had complications that were present at last follow-up (1 tinnitus, 3 facial weakness, 6 hearing loss). The rate of complete or significant remission of spasms in the early, middle, and late groups was 95.6%, 97.1%, and 98.5%, respectively; the corresponding complication rates were 5.9%, 5.9%, and 2.9%, respectively. Compared with the 2D endoscope, the 3D endoscope provided subjectively enhanced stereoscopic vision and depth perception, which facilitated the operation. CONCLUSION: Fully endoscopic MVD for HFS offers wide visualization of the neurovascular conflict area and minimizes brain injury caused by retraction. Once technical proficiency is achieved, surgical outcomes are favorable and complications are low. Despite the drawbacks such as a slight sense of vertigo during use and high cost, the 3D endoscope provides a stereoscopic view. More research is essential to verify its role in MVD surgery.

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