The management of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm

The aetiology of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm is different, but both produce involuntary eye closure and facial movements which do not respond to systemic drug treatment. The introduction of therapeutic focal muscle weakening with botulinum toxin injections in the early 1980s appeared to offer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of neurology Vol. 239; no. 1; p. 5
Main Author Elston, J S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.01.1992
Subjects
Blepharoptosis - chemically induced
Blepharoptosis - epidemiology
Blepharospasm - drug therapy
Blepharospasm - surgery
Botulinum Toxins - adverse effects
Botulinum Toxins - therapeutic use
Diplopia - chemically induced
Diplopia - epidemiology
Facial Muscles
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Recurrence
Spasm - drug therapy
Spasm - surgery
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Summary:The aetiology of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm is different, but both produce involuntary eye closure and facial movements which do not respond to systemic drug treatment. The introduction of therapeutic focal muscle weakening with botulinum toxin injections in the early 1980s appeared to offer great promise in the management of these conditions. In this paper the results of botulinum toxin treatment of 234 patients with blepharospasm and 73 patients with hemifacial spasm over a 7-year period have been analysed. Most patients receive sustained benefit from repeated injections whilst side-effects become less frequent. A clinically recognisable subgroup of patients with blepharospasm respond poorly and may be better treated surgically.
ISSN:0340-5354
DOI:10.1007/bf00839203