Frequently asked questions about facial muscle spasms

  Facial muscle twitching, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy and other diseases are very common in the neurosurgery department of the hospital. Generally, the treatment of neurological diseases is mostly done clinically by traditional open surgery, however, the effect of treating traumatic brain injury, hypertensive brain hemorrhage and other diseases with the original combination of Chinese and Western medicine special therapy is as remarkable. Recently, the neurosurgery department of the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has solved two diseases, namely facial muscle twitching and hypertension, through one operation at the same time.  The double operation was a zero breakthrough in the neurosurgery department of District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The twitching is paroxysmal and irregular, with varying degrees, mostly starting from the lower eyelid on one side and gradually spreading to the face and even the neck muscles later. When the twitching is severe, it can cause facial pain and affect vision, speech and sleep. During the surgery of a male patient with facial twitching in his 50s, the doctor separated the facial nerve, vagus nerve and left ventral lateral medulla oblongata from their corresponding responsible blood vessels through microvascular decompression to release the nerve compression, thus achieving the effect of curing facial twitching and hypertension. The doctor and the patient both have special significance.  The doctor reminded that usually many people treat hypertension mostly by medication, but rarely by surgery. A large number of scientific studies have confirmed the theory that compression of the left lateral ventral medulla oblongata and vagus nerve by pulsatile vessels is the cause of primary hypertension, and at the same time opened up a new pathway for the treatment of hypertension – microvascular decompression.  Rehabilitation treatment, showing the characteristics of Chinese medicine It is understood that in neurosurgery, the characteristic therapy of Chinese medicine is mainly reflected in the postoperative rehabilitation treatment. Recently, the hospital received a patient with traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage due to a head injury. The patient’s condition was quite dangerous and a slight lack of attention could easily induce intracerebral hemorrhage leading to life-threatening injuries. Peng immediately conducted a comprehensive examination on the patient and treated him with a combination of Chinese and Western methods. After a period of treatment, the patient was cured.  In addition, like hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage patients, besides using Angong Niuhuang Pills according to the patient’s condition, the hospital will also use some Chinese medicines such as Awakening Brain Jing according to the actual situation. During the whole process of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, tui-na and other Chinese medicine specialties will also be implemented for patients according to their conditions to help them recover better.  Minimally invasive treatment, widely used in neurosurgery treatment With the development of minimally invasive technology, minimally invasive treatment is loved by patients for its advantages of small trauma, low cost and quick recovery, and is now widely used in neurosurgery. One of the most common is the use of minimally invasive treatment for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, especially at this stage, more and more patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage are coming to the hospital. Minimally invasive treatment of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage is mainly through preoperative CT localization, intraoperative local anesthesia or basic anesthesia, the application of a hose can remove the hematoma, minimize the damage to the patient’s brain parenchyma, try to preserve neurological function, and reduce medical costs. This method has saved many patients (especially elderly patients) with critical hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage that were difficult to save with drug therapy and conventional craniotomy. In addition to basic programs such as traumatic brain injury, the neurosurgery department of the district hospital also offers epilepsy surgery. Since March this year, it has taken the lead in epilepsy surgery, video EEG examination and intraoperative EEG monitoring in the district. The hospital has also purchased the first video EEG in Panyu District for this purpose, which can be used for screening, confirming diagnosis, typing and follow-up observation of drug efficacy of epilepsy; preoperative localization of epileptogenic foci, etc., which brings great convenience to doctors’ diagnosis and patients’ treatment, and also increases the scientificity of diagnosis.