Many [[ablative]] [[procedure]]s are effective for [[hemifacial spasm]] (HFS) (including sectioning of divisions of the [[facial nerve]]), however, this leaves the patient with some degree of facial paresis. The current procedure of choice for HFS is [[microvascular decompression]] (MVD) wherein the offending [[vessel]] is physically moved off of the nerve, and a [[sponge]] (e.g. [[Ivalon]]®, polyvinyl formyl alcohol foam) is interposed as a [[cushion]].
Other cushions may not prove to be as satisfactory ([[muscle]] may disappear, and [[Teflon]] felt may thin
((Rhoton AL. Comment on Payner T D and Tew J M:
Recurrence of Hemifacial Spasm After Microvascular
Decompression. Neurosurgery. 1996; 38)).