• Mustafa Efkan Colpan and Zeki Sekerci.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Social Security Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. colpan@iit.edu
• Neurosurgery. 2005 Aug 1; 57 (2): E371; discussion E371.

Objective And ImportanceWe report on a patient with a Chiari I malformation presenting with right hemifacial spasm. Clinicians should consider the downward displacement of the hindbrain as a rare cause of hemifacial spasm in Chiari I malformation.Clinical PresentationAn 18-year-old man was admitted with right hemifacial spasm. The results of the neurological examination were normal except for the facial spasm. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a Chiari I malformation without syringomyelia. After surgery, the hemifacial spasm completely resolved.InterventionPosterior fossa decompression, C1 laminectomy, and duraplasty were performed.ConclusionThe hemifacial spasm could be attributed to compression and/or traction of the facial nerve because of downward displacement of the hindbrain in Chiari I malformation. Compression and/or traction might create irritation of the facial nerve that causes hemifacial spasm. Resolution of the hemifacial spasm after posterior fossa decompression could explain the facial nerve irritation in Chiari I malformation. Clinicians should consider Chiari malformation as a cause of hemifacial spasm and posterior fossa decompression as a potential treatment.

26 keywords...

hide…