Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a common movement disorder, presented with unilateral, intermittent, irregular, tonic or clonic contraction of facial expression muscles without any identifiable etiology. Comparison of quality of life (QoL) between Dysport® and Neuronox® has not been studied in HFS patients.
Objective: To evaluate the QoL after treatment with botulinum toxin A (Dysport® and Neuronox®) injection in HFS patient.
Material and Method: A 24-week, double-blind, randomized, cross-over comparison of QoL in HFS patients after being treated with botulinum toxin A (Dysport®) and botulinum toxin A (Neuronox®) was performed. Assessment of QoL composed of hemifacial spasm-30 (HFS-30), medical outcome study short form 36 items (SF-36), abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and center for epidemiologic studies-depression (CES-D) questionnaire, were performed at week 0, week 12, and week 24. The 24-hour HFS diary, recorded for 4 weeks after treatment was also evaluated.
Results: Total of 26 HFS patients were enrolled between May 2010 and January 2011. The mean HFS-30, AIMS and CES-D were reduced after treatment without any difference between the two groups. The mean SF-36 was not changed in both groups. However, mean HFS-30 (p = 0.09), AIMS (p = 0.02) and CES-D (p < 0.001) of all treated patients were reduced across the treatment period. Total intensity score of HFS, duration of facial muscles spasm per day and duration of functional impairment per day in Dysport® group were significantly lower than the Neuronox® group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: There was no difference between Dysport® and Neuronox® in the aspect of QoL in HFS patients. However, there was improvement of QoL after multiple botulinum toxin A injection.

Keywords: Hemifacial spasm, Botulinum toxin A Dysport® Neuronux®, Quadity of Life