Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40050528›Full record

SynthesisNeurosurgical review2025

Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: a systematic review.

Ali Ansari, Roozbeh Tavanaei, Alireza Alikhani, Bardia Hajikarimloo, Sina Zoghi, Ahmed M Alnemari, MirHojjat Khorasanizadeh, Nathan T Zwagerman

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurosurgical review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ali AnsariStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Roozbeh TavanaeiFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ruzdad7@gmail.com.
Alireza AlikhaniFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Bardia HajikarimlooDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Sina ZoghiStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ahmed M AlnemariDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
MirHojjat KhorasanizadehDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
Nathan T ZwagermanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a distressing condition caused by facial nerve compression and characterized by involuntary facial muscle twitching, adversely impacting quality of life. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is effective but poses risks. Fully endoscopic MVD (E-MVD) as an emerging technique offers enhanced safety and efficacy. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the use of fully E-MVD in treating HFS. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, the systematic review included a thorough literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Eligible studies were evaluated based on predefined criteria, with duplicates eliminated and conflicts resolved by a senior author. Data extraction was performed independently by two authors, with disagreements resolved by the senior author. Details on study characteristics, demographics, intraoperative observations, postoperative complications, and efficacy of fully E-MVD for HFS were gathered. Quality assessment was conducted using the NIH tool. A total of 408 patients were included in the study, with females comprising 68% and males 32% of the cohort. The mean age of patients was 52.4 years, with an average symptom duration of 4.5 years. Right-sided and left-sided symptoms were reported in 54.4% and 46.6% of patients, respectively. Intraoperatively, the most common offending blood vessel was a single AICA (48.1%). Early postoperative complications were reported in 13.6% of patients, which primarily consisted of transient facial palsy (6.8%) and hearing impairment (4%). All cases of facial palsy resolved during the follow-up period, yet 1.3% of hearing impairments persisted. The efficacy of Fully E-MVD for HFS was promising, with 93.3% of patients experiencing effective resolution at follow-up. With advancements in surgical techniques and technology, fully E-MVD continues to show promising results in improving the quality of life for patients suffering from HFS. Favorable outcomes and symptom resolution support fully E-MVD's advantages. Surgeons must consider limitations and proper techniques for optimal patient outcomes.

Indexed as

EndoscopyHemifacial SpasmMicrovascular Decompression SurgeryFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative ComplicationsQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeEndoscopeEndoscopicHemifacial spasmMicrovascular decompression

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.