The Palpebral Variety of Blepharospasms. Differentiation from Apraxia of Eyelid Opening and from Inhibition Disorders via Synchronous Electromyographical Recordings

Introduction: Blepharospasm (BS) is one of the diseases which can be treated easily and effectively with Botulinumtoxin (Btx) injections into the orbicularis oculi. The reason for primary failures in Btx-therapy almost always seems to be inaccurate classification of the three most important differential diagnoses: 1. palpebral variety of BS, 2. inhibition failures of the mm. orbicularis oculi and levator palpebrae superioris, 3. levator muscle apraxia. Differentiating these three disorders via electromyographical (EMG) recordings of eye muscles is the main objective of this investigation. Methods: After excludin…