NEUROSONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FACIAL NERVE STRUCTURES IN PATIENTS WITH HEMIFACIAL SPASM
Keywords:
hemifacial spasm, facial nerve, neurosonography, neurovascular conflict, echogenicity, Doppler ultrasonographyAbstract
This article presents the results of a comprehensive ultrasound and neurosonographic examination of facial nerve structures in patients with hemifacial spasm. The aim of the study was to investigate the structural and hemodynamic characteristics of the facial nerve to identify early diagnostic and prognostic signs of neurovascular conflict. The study included 60 patients with hemifacial spasm (main group) and 40 healthy individuals matched for gender and age (control group). The examination was conducted using an expert-class ultrasound device with a high- frequency linear transducer (7.5-12 MHz) and Doppler mode to assess perineural blood flow. In patients of the main group, a significant decrease in the diameter of the facial nerve was observed (on average 1.9±0.3 mm versus 2.4±0.2 mm in the control group, p<0.01), along with reduced echogenicity and altered blood flow in perineural vessels. The obtained data indicate the presence of compression changes and early signs of nerve fiber demyelination. A significant positive correlation was established between the severity of neurosonographic changes and the degree of clinical manifestations of spasm according to the Facial Spasm Severity Scale (r=0.62; p<0.05), confirming the diagnostic significance of the method in assessing the severity of neurovascular conflict.
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