Hemifacial Spasm as a Rare Clinical Presentation of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Case Report and Literature Review

Orthostatic Hemifacial Spasm in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Among the symptoms seen in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), hemifacial spasm (HFS) is rare. Orthostatic-induced HFS preceding lumbar puncture (LP) is previously unreported. We treated two patients with unusual IIH presentations. This case series reviews the few reports of HFS in IIH and proposes a mechanism for spasm occurrence.

METHODS

Case 1: A woman in her mid-40s with previously controlled IIH developed daily headache, pulsatile tinnitus, right-sided trigeminal paresthesia, and right-sided HFS. The latter 2 symptoms occurred exclusively when moving from a sitting to a standing position. Imaging was unremarkable; opening pressure (OP) on LP was 46 cmH2O with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) components. Case 2: A woman in her late 40s presented with severe daily headache, pulsatile tinnitus, and left-sided HFS following weight gain. Imaging was unremarkable; OP on LP was 32 cmH2O with normal CSF components.

RESULTS

HFS episodes persisted following LP in both patients. Increasing and initiating acetazolamide, respectively, resolved all symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Earlier suggested mechanisms of HFS are based on elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) shifting the facial nerve into proximity of a vascular structure. HFS appearing upon standing and continuing after LP, and thus a lower ICP, contradicts this. We propose a mechanism based on the degree of ICP change. This theory is grounded in the lack of intracranial compliance in IIH, wherein substantial pressure changes occur following small volume changes.

Analyzing the application of dezocine combined with psychological care in the postoperative pain management of patients with hemifacial spasm

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the application of Dezocine combined with psychological care in the postoperative pain management.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study. A total of 186 HFS patients who underwent Microvascular Decompression (MVD) at First People's Hospital of Zunyi between January 2020 and January 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Patients were divided into two groups based on different treatment interventions. The control group (n = 93) received routine perioperative care without preemptive analgesia, while the observation group (n = 93) received preemptive analgesia and combined psychological care on the basis of the control group's intervention.

RESULTS

At 30 min post-laryngeal mask removal (T3), no significant difference in Ramsay Sedation Scale scores existed between control and observation groups (p > 0.05). The observation group showed significantly lower RSS scores at immediate mask removal (T2) and VAS scores at T3 compared to controls (p < 0.05). Following intervention, the observation group had notably lower SAS and SDS scores than controls (p < 0.05). Baseline (T0) and 5 min pre-removal (T1) exhibited no significant differences in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) values between groups (p > 0.05). However, at T2 and T3, the observation group displayed significantly lower MAP and HR values than controls (p < 0.05). No significant differences in pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) values existed between groups at any time point (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared to standard perioperative care alone, Dezocine combined with preemptive analgesia and psychological care effectively reduces postoperative pain during the awakening period, lowers the risk of immediate extubation-related agitation, and maintains stable hemodynamics in the postoperative period.

Hemifacial spasm through changes of cerebrospinal fluid pressure in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare complication of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH); hence, little is known about its pathophysiology and treatment options. Here, we report a 29-year-old woman with a 3-month history of IIH and HFS. Following a diagnostic and therapeutic lumbar puncture, she suffered from attacks of HFS for a few days every time she rose from a supine position. The relatively sudden drop in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure led to frequent HFS attacks, which, in contrast to the attacks in the previous months, were strictly observed only when getting up from the supine position. This observation suggests changes in CSF pressure as the likely pathophysiological mechanism responsible for HFS in IIH, rather than the absolute CSF pressure. She was then successfully treated with topiramate, a known therapeutic option in IIH, but not yet described for HFS in IIH.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Implications for the Otolaryngologist

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a triad of headaches, visual changes, and papilledema in the absence of a secondary cause for elevated intracranial pressure. There is an association with obesity, and the incidence is rising in parallel with the obesity epidemic. Sometimes these patients present to an otolaryngologist with complaints like tinnitus, dizziness, hearing loss, and otorrhea or rhinorrhea from cerebrospinal fluid leak. IIH diagnosis in conjunction with neurology and ophthalmology, including neuroimaging and lumbar puncture with opening pressure, is key to managing of this condition. Otolaryngologists should recognize IIH as a possible diagnosis and initiate appropriate referrals and treatment.

Atypical presentations of idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of unknown etiology that results in isolated raised intracranial pressure. Classic symptoms and signs of IIH include headache, papilledema, diplopia from sixth nerve palsy and divergence insufficiency, and pulsatile tinnitus. Atypical presentations include: (1) highly asymmetric or even unilateral papilledema, and IIH without papilledema; (2) ocular motor disturbances from third nerve palsy, fourth nerve palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, diffuse ophthalmoplegia, and skew deviation; (3) olfactory dysfunction; (4) trigeminal nerve dysfunction; (5) facial nerve dysfunction; (6) hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction; (7) lower cranial nerve dysfunction including deviated uvula, torticollis, and tongue weakness; (8) spontaneous skull base cerebrospinal fluid leak; and (9) seizures. Although atypical findings should raise a red flag and prompt further investigation for an alternative etiology, clinicians should be familiar with these unusual presentations.