Ho Chi Minh City Ms. Huong, 53 years old, had convulsions, numbness and weakness on the right side of her face, and a crooked mouth for two years. The doctor examined her and discovered that her 7th cranial nerve was compressed.
Ms. Huong said that every time she had a seizure or her face was distorted, people thought she had epilepsy. She was self-conscious and did not dare to meet other people. She used anti-seizure drugs and had botox injections to tighten her facial muscles. The symptoms subsided but after a while, they relapsed and became more severe, so she went to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for examination.
The patient's MRI results showed that the 7th cranial nerve was compressed by the anterior cerebellar artery. On November 8, MSc. Dr. Mai Hoang Vu, Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroscience, said that this was a phenomenon of blood vessel and nerve conflict causing convulsions in the half of the face on the side of the compressed nerve.
The doctor explained that the seventh nerve is a motor nerve, and when compressed, the initial treatment is medical (using medication). If there is no response, microvascular decompression surgery is the next option.
The doctor consults and prescribes surgery for the patient using a microscope with 3D fluorescence function, high magnification, and clear images. To access the 7th nerve, the doctor must enter the cerebellopontine angle, which contains many important structures (petrous vein, drainage system, transverse sinus, nerves 5, 8, 9...).
Doctors operated to relieve pressure on the patient's 7th cranial nerve. Photo: Provided by the hospital
The compression site is located about 5-6 cm from the cerebral cortex. The doctor uses a specialized endoscope to penetrate deeper into the brain and separate the 7th nerve from the cerebellar artery by inserting a pad in the middle. This pad prevents blood vessels from compressing the nerve, avoiding nerve damage.
After the 90-minute surgery, Mrs. Huong stopped having convulsions and facial distortions. Her neurological functions and healthy brain tissue were preserved. She is expected to be discharged after 6 days.
Doctor examines patient three days after surgery. Photo: Provided by the hospital
Facial spasms caused by compression of the 7th cranial nerve do not affect life, but make the patient uncomfortable, lose confidence, have difficulty eating and drinking, and reduce the quality of life. When the patient is stressed or exercising, the facial muscles are more likely to spasm.
According to Dr. Vu, in some cases, neurovascular conflicts can be treated with botox injections and medication. However, the optimal solution is surgery to decompress the nerves and cerebral arteries. With modern machinery, this technique helps treat patients successfully and safely.
Peaceful
* Patient's name has been changed
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