A New Surgical Option For Patients with Unresolved Bell's Palsy.

PURPOSE: This paper describes a new surgical procedure with electrical stimulation of the facial nerve for unresolved Bell's palsy and compares the facial nerve recovery with another group who underwent traditional middle cranial fossa decompression. RECENT FINDINGS: All patients with total unilateral facial paralysis had surgery by the senior author 3 months from onset of Bell's Palsy. Surgical decompression was performed in 13 patients between 1992-2012 (Group 1). Surgical exposure with intraoperative electrical stimulation of the facial nerve in the peri-geniculate region was performed in 47 patients between 2012-2022 (Group 2). The facial recovery at 1 month and 3 month were significantly better in Group 2. The degree of synkinesis was significantly less in Group 2. The trans-mastoid electrical stimulation of the facial nerve is less invasive, requires no hospital stay, and less time off work compared to the middle cranial fossa approach. The earlier facial movement at one month results in less long-term unwanted faulty regeneration or synkinesis.

Clinical application of physical therapy in facial paralysis treatment: A review.

This review aims to summarize recent studies regarding the specific modalities of physical therapy as a form of treatment for patients with facial paralysis, analyze the different components of physical therapy, and provide healthcare providers with guidance for their best practice in treating patients with facial paralysis. This paper will discuss the mechanism, indications, and impact factors for facial retraining, evaluate the standards for facial retraining, the creation of a treatment plan, and analyze the combined use of facial retraining with botulinum toxin injections and the application of facial retraining in post facial reanimation patients. Other modes of physical therapy, including electrical stimulation, dry needling, and acupuncture, will be addressed. Lastly, the application of new digital technology will be discussed.

Pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of facial synkinesis: A systematic review and clinical practice recommendations by the international head and neck scientific group.

Introduction: Post-paralytic facial synkinesis after facial nerve injury produces functional disabilities and mimetic deficits, but also cosmetic and non-motor psychosocial impairments for the patients. These patients typically have a high and continuous high motivation for rehabilitation. The aim is to inform the affected patients and their therapeutic professionals (otorhinolaryngologist - head and neck surgeons; oral-maxillofacial surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and mime therapists be it speech and language therapy- or physiotherapy-based) and to provide practical recommendations for diagnostics and a stepwise systematic treatment approach of facial synkinesis. Methods: In the first phase, a systematic literature search on the topic in PubMed and ScienceDirect starting in 2008 resulted in 132 articles. These were the basis for the review and a comprehensive series of consensus statements on the most important diagnostic tests and treatment options. In the second phase, one consensus article circulated among the membership of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group until a final agreement was reached for all recommendations. Results: Diagnostics should include a standardized assessment of the degree of synkinesis using validated clinician-graded instruments and synkinesis-specific patient-reported outcome measures. Treatments for facial synkinesis include facial training mainly based on facial biofeedback retraining, chemodenervation with botulinum toxin, selective neurectomy, myectomy, and any combination treatment of these options. Conclusion: A basic understanding of the pathomechanisms of synkinesis is essential to understand the treatment strategies. A standardized assessment of the synkinetic symptoms and the individual synkinesis pattern is needed. The first-line treatment is facial training, followed by botulinum toxin. Surgery is reserved for individual cases with unsatisfactory first-line treatment.

Relationship between serum gonadal hormone levels and synkinesis in postmenopausal women and man with idiopathic facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether serum gonadal hormone levels are correlated to the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal women and man. METHODS: A total of 149 patients with Bell's palsy were enrolled in this study. All patients were instructed in standard treatment strategy by expert staff from their first visit. The degree of synkinesis was evaluated at 12 months after the onset of facial nerve palsy based on the synkinesis scores of Sunnybrook facial grading system. The patients were divided into two groups by gender. RESULTS: Serum estradiol levels were significantly higher in patients with facial synkinesis than in patients without facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal female. Male patients with facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy had a higher serum estradiol and testosterone levels. Baseline ENoG values (OR=11.144, 95% CI=1.001-124.126, p=0.008) and serum estradiol levels (OR=1.145, 95% CI=1.033-1.270, p=0.010) were the two independent predictors for facial synkinesis in postmenopausal female patients. Meanwhile, baseline ENoG values (OR=5.312, 95% CI=0.626-45.069, p=0.035), HbA1c values (OR=27.470, 95% CI=2.001-43.084, p=0.016), serum E2 levels (OR=1.298, 95% CI=1.092-1.542, p=0.003), and serum testosterone levels (OR=1.892, 95% CI=1.309-2.734, p=0.001) were the independent predictors for facial synkinesis in male patients. CONCLUSION: Serum estradiol levels are associated with the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal female patients. Serum estradiol and testosterone levels are associated with the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in male patients. Serum gonadal hormone levels might be acted as potential biomarker for predicting facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy.

Síndrome de Marcus-Gunn / Marcus Gunn syndrome

Introducción: El síndrome de Marcus-Gunn se manifiesta con retracción o elevación del párpado ptótico ante la estimulación del músculo pterigoideo del mismo lado y el término "guiño mandibular" es inapropiado ya que el párpado no siempre desciende. Puede producirse en la apertura bucal, masticación, avance mandibular, al sonreír, silbar, bruxar, sacar la lengua, deglutir, chupar, cantar, en la contracción esternocleidomastoidea, maniobra de Valsalva, respirar o inhalar. Es congénito y de modalidad rara y autosómica dominante. Objetivo: Contribuir al conocimiento de esta rara enfermedad y a su relación con el ámbito odontológico. Presentación del caso: Se trata de un niño de 3 años diagnosticado de síndrome de Marcus-Gunn en el periodo neonatal, por la observación de la madre de una apertura palpebral izquierda durante la succión nutritiva. No presenta otras enfermedades ni antecedentes de interés. En la exploración extraoral se advierte una ptosis palpebral derecha y apertura palpebral izquierda en los movimientos mandibulares y deglución. La intensidad del reflejo se incrementa en estados de ansiedad derivados del tratamiento dental. Conclusiones: el síndrome de Marcus-Gunn es una entidad rara en pediatría, en la cual sus hallazgos clínicos determinan el diagnóstico. Teniendo en cuenta que en ocasiones presentan alteraciones oculares, nada nos hace sospechar la presencia de una enfermedad oral específica(AU)

Introduction: Marcus Gunn syndrome manifests with retraction or elevation of the eyelid ptotico while stimulation of the pterygoid muscle on the same side and the term jaw-winking is inappropriate because the eyelid does not always goes down. It can occur during mouth opening, mastication, mandibular advancement, while smiling, whistling, bruxing, sticking out the tongue, swallowing, sucking, singing, during the sternocleidomastoid contraction, the Valsalva maneuver, breathing or inhaling. This syndrome is congenital and rare, and of autosomal dominant modality. Objective: To contribute to the knowledge of this rare disease and its relationship with the odontologic field. Presentation of the case: 3 years old boy diagnosed with Marcus Gunn syndrome in the neonatal period by the observation of the mother of a left palpebral opening during the nutritive sucking. He does not present other diseases or a background of interest. In the extraoral exploration, it is noticed a right palpebral ptosis and a left palpebral opening in the jaw movements and in swallowing. The intensity of the reflex increases in anxiety states arising from the dental treatment. Conclusions: Marcus Gunn syndrome is a rare entity in pediatrics, in which its clinical findings determine the diagnosis. Taking into account that sometimes it presents ocular alterations, nothing makes us suspect the presence of a specific oral disease(AU)