Background: Hemimasticatory spasm is a rare clinical entity characterized by involuntary and paroxysmal contractions of the jaw-closing muscles on 1 side of the face. Although its cause is not fully known, vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve has been speculated.
Case description: Here, we report 1 case of hemimasticatory spasm that was cured by microvascular decompression of the motor branch of the trigeminal nerve; a relevant literature review was also performed.
Conclusions: Hemimasticatory spasm is a rare disease that may be recalcitrant to conservative medical therapy, and vascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve may be required to relieve the spasm.
Keywords: Electromyography; Hemimasticatory spasm; Literature review; Microvascular decompression.
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