Treatment with botulinum toxin in patients diagnosed with hemifacial spasm

Authors

  • Arturo Rodríguez López
  • Carlos Maragoto Rizo
  • Esther Maragoto Pérez
  • Irene Gonzales Gonzales
  • Lorena Gil Navarro

Keywords:

hemifacial spasm, Botulinum toxin, clinical assessment scale

Abstract

Introduction. Hemifacial spasm is characterized by involuntary and repeated contractions of the muscles of one side of the face. Botulinum toxin injection has become the first treatment option for this nosological entity, there is a greater sensitivity to the toxin, due to the relative damage of the facial nerve.

Objective. To describe the clinical characteristics and the treatment with botulinum toxin in a group of patients.

Methods. A descriptive, longitudinal study was carried out in patients with hemifacial spasm, who were treated with botulinum neurotoxin at the International Center for Neurological Restoration, in Havana, Cuba, in the period between 2009 and 2018. A sample was taken not probabilistic study of 50 patients.

Results. The average age of the patients was 67.79 ± 13.71 years. A slight predominance of those affected on the left side of the face is noted, n=26 (52 %). We consider significant the reduction of the percentage of functional impairment in general, as well as the maximum value of the Jankovic severity scale specifically. The mean improvement scale was 2.92 and ± 0.94.

Conclusions. A predominance of ages between 60 and 79 years was observed. The starting age was 51.97 ±15.08 years. The clinical evaluation scale of hemifacial spasm of Martí, Tolosa and Alom applied to patients demonstrated the efficacy of treatment with botulinum toxin.

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Published

2022-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez López A, Maragoto Rizo C, Maragoto Pérez E, Gonzales Gonzales I, Gil Navarro L. Treatment with botulinum toxin in patients diagnosed with hemifacial spasm. Invest Medicoquir [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 31 [cited 2025 Dec. 16];15(1):e804. Available from: https://revcimeq.sld.cu/index.php/imq/article/view/804

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2023): January-June

Section

Research article

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