Correlação entre eletromiografia e índice de inabilidade facial em pacientes com paralisia facial de longa duração: implicações para o resultado de tratamentos / Correlation between electromyographic data and facial disability index in patients with long-term facial paralysis: implications for treatment outcomes

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar de o movimento facial e de a atividade muscular poderem ser quantificados por meio de diversas técnicas e de a inabilidade facial poder ser quantificada por meio de questionários de autoavaliação, a relação entre essas medidas objetivas e subjetivas ainda não foi investigada. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi correlacionar dados eletromiográficos dos músculos elevadores do ângulo da boca com o índice de inabilidade facial em pacientes com paralisia facial de longa duração. A hipótese do estudo foi de que indivíduos com maior assimetria facial apresentariam escores menores no índice de inabilidade facial. MÉTODO: A avaliação consistiu na aplicação de uma escala clínica para avaliação da mímica facial, de duas subescalas do Índice de Inabilidade Facial e da realização do exame de eletromiografia de superfície (EMGs). Foram analisados 17 pacientes com paralisia facial de longa duração e os resultados foram comparados ao grupo controle, composto por 17 indivíduos saudáveis pareados por gênero e idade. RESULTADOS: Os participantes do grupo pesquisa apresentaram diferenças significantes entre as hemifaces nas tarefas de repouso e sorriso. O mesmo não foi observado para os participantes do grupo controle. A análise estatística indicou correlação fraca entre os dados da EMGs (assimetria facial) e o Índice de Inabilidade Facial. CONCLUSÕES: O uso de técnicas científicas modernas de análise de dados, como a EMGs, combinadas a medidas de autoavaliação oferece grandes possibilidades para clínicos e seus pacientes. A combinação de diferentes medidas em estudos randomizados que verifiquem o tipo de tratamento que oferece melhor resultado aos pacientes com paralisia facial deverá ser abordada em estudo futuro.

BACKGROUND: Several techniques are available for the assessment of facial movement and activity, and facial disability can be evaluated through self-administered questionnaires. However, the relationship between these objective and subjective measurements has not been examined to date. The present study examined the relationship between electromyographic data of the levator anguli oris muscle with the facial disability index in patients with long-term facial paralysis. We hypothesized that individuals with greater facial asymmetry have lower facial disability index scores. METHODS: Patients were assessed using a clinical scale for the evaluation of facial expression, 2 facial disability index subscales, and the results of surface electromyography (sEMG). Seventeen long-term facial paralysis patients were analyzed and compared to 17 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Significant differences between right and left hemifaces during smiling and at rest were detected in the experimental group, but not in the controls. Statistical analyses also indicated a weak correlation between sEMG (facial asymmetry) and facial disability index. CONCLUSIONS: The use of modern data analysis techniques such as sEMG in combination with self-reported data is of great benefit to clinicians and their patients. The identification of a combination of measurements from randomized trials that can best determine the most effective treatment for patients with facial paralysis should be the objective of future studies.

Botulinum toxin injection in long-standing facial paralysis patients: improvement of facial symmetry observed up to 6 months.

BACKGROUND: Despite modern reanimation surgical techniques, facial paralysis presents with functional and aesthetic deficits. We evaluated facial symmetry after treating with botulinum toxin the healthy side of the face of 25 patients with long-standing facial paralysis who had previously been treated by surgical methods, with 6 months follow-up. METHODS: Evaluation consisted of a clinical score, the two subscales of the Facial Disability Index, and surface electromyography. The mean botulinum toxin dose was 38 +/- 5 U (range = 15-69 U). RESULTS: The clinical score showed significant reduction of asymmetry of 48.4% at 1 month and 16.8% after 6 months. The initial result was a consequence of reduced motion on the treated side combined with better motion on the paralyzed side. At 6 months, the treated side returned to basal scores. The residual effect seen in symmetry was due to an increase (18%) of motion in the paralyzed side. There was a significant decrease in the action potential of muscles on the nonparalyzed side 1 month post injection but completely reverted after 6 months. The Physical Function Index increased, but not significantly. The Social/Well-Being Function Index showed a significant increase at 6 months compared to pretreatment. CONCLUSION: The proposed treatment improved facial symmetry for up to 6 months. Even after the end of the clinical effect of the drug, the paralyzed side's clinical score was 18% higher than pretreatment, with an increased quality of life.

Fonoaudiologia e estética facial: estudo de casos / Speech therapy and facial esthetic: cases studies

OBJETIVO: caracterizar as modificações presentes no comportamento facial após tratamento fonoaudiológico proposto para face, através da comparação das medidas da projeção do sulco nasogeniano ao tragus pré e pós-tratamento fonoaudiológico MÉTODOS: a população foi constituída de 10 professores atendidos no Hospital dos Servidores do Estado de Pernambuco de ambos os sexos, e com idade entre 33 e 63 anos. O processo de coleta de dados consistiu de protocolos de anamnese e avaliação, protocolo de desempenho, além do registro fotográfico. Foi realizada a medida da projeção do sulco nasogeniano ao tragus. Durante dezesseis sessões foram trabalhados exercícios isotônicos, isométricos, isocinéticos, massagens, manipulações faciais, equilíbrio funcional estomatognático, além de orientações aos cuidados faciais. RESULTADOS: foi constatada uma redução das medidas da projeção do sulco nasogeniano ao tragus em ambos os lados, observando-se também um notório equilíbrio entre os lados direito e esquerdo. CONCLUSÃO: o programa de tratamento proposto para face reduziu as medidas da projeção do sulco nasogeniano ao tragus e proporcionou um equilíbrio entre essas medidas.

PURPOSE: to describe the modifications in the face behavior after the speech language pathology treatment proposed for the face, by comparing the measurements of the projection related to the nasolabial sulcus to the tragus of these patients before and after the speech language pathology treatment. METHODS: the surveyed population was mad up by 10 teachers treated at the "Hospital dos Servidores do Estado" aged between 33 and 63 years. Data collection process was made up by protocols, anamnesis and evaluation, performance protocol, in addition to the photographic record. A measurement of the nasolabial sulcus to the tragus was carried out. Throughout the 16-session, we carried on specific orientation about face isotonic, isometric and isokinetic exercises, massages, facial manipulation, functional equilibrium of the stomatognathic system besides the orientations about faces care. RESULTS: a significant reduction in the measurements of the nasolabial sulcus projection to tragus in both sides was verified and also a significant balance was observed between the right and left sides. CONCLUSION: the treatment program proposed for the face reduced the measurements as for the projection the nasolabial sulcus to the tragus and provided balance among such measurements.

Efeito da terapia miofuncional em pacientes com paralisia facial de longa duração associada à aplicação de toxina botulínica / Effect of the muscular-function therapy in patients with long-standing facial paralysis associate to the botulinum toxin application

INTRODUÇÃO: A paralisia facial é constrangedora tanto do ponto de vista funcional quanto estético. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo verificar o efeito da terapia miofuncional em pacientes com paralisia facial de longa duração associada à aplicação de toxina botulínica. MÉTODOS: Foram tratados vinte e cinco pacientes, divididos em dois grupos. Os pacientes do grupo A receberam quatro sessões de terapia miofuncional antes da aplicação de toxina botulínica e os pacientes do grupo B simultaneamente à aplicação. A terapia foi composta por manobras isométricas e isotônicas passivas, intra e extraorais, além de exercícios de resistência. RESULTADOS: Após a terapia miofuncional os pacientes apresentaram aumento significativo da mobilidade do lado paralisado da face, do índice de satisfação do paciente com a face, do Índice Funcional da Face (IFF) e do Índice de Bem-Estar Social (IBES). O grupo de pacientes que realizaram a terapia miofuncional previamente, apresentou freqüência significativamente maior de dificuldade para falar, enquanto o grupo que realizou a terapia miofuncional a partir da data da aplicação de toxina botulínica, apresentou frequência significativamente maior de dificuldade para mastigar. A terapia miofuncional promove simetria facial; satisfação dos pacientes com a face, funcionalidade oromiofacial, qualidade de vida e deve ser realizada antes e após aplicação de toxina botulínica para reduzir os possíveis efeitos adversos.

INTRODUCTION: The facial paralysis is constraining so much of the functional point of view as aesthetic. This research had for goal verified the myofunctional therapy effect in patients with long-standing facial paralysis associate to the botulinum toxin application. METHODS: Twenty-five patients were treated, divided into two groups. The patients from the group A received four sessions of myofunctional therapy before the toxin botulinum application and the patients from the group B received it simultaneously to the application. The therapy was composed by isometric and passive isotonic maneuvers, inside and outside oral, and resistance exercises. RESULTS: After the myofuncional therapy the patients presented significant increase of the mobility of the paralyzed side, of the patient satisfaction index with the face, Functional Index of the Face (IFF) and of the Index of Social Welfare (IBES). The group of patient that accomplished the myofuncional therapy previously presented significantly larger frequency of talking difficulty, while the group that accomplished the miofuncional therapy from the toxin botulínica application date presented significantly larger frequency of chewing difficulty. The myofuncional therapy promotes facial symmetry; patients satisfaction with the face, myofuncional functionality, life quality, and should be accomplished before and after toxin botulínica application to reduce the possible adverse effects.

Combined tretinoin and glycolic acid treatment improves mouth opening for postburn patients.

Postburn tissue repair progresses late, with changes in the skin's physical properties. Clinically, the skin appears dry, scaly, and dyschromic, with diminished elasticity, particularly in the presence of hypertrophic scars. Improvement of postburn skin can be obtained by using topical agents normally used in pathologies such as acne and photoaging. This study analyzed 77 patients, ages 6 to 46 years, with late perioral burn sequelae. The resulting integument was classified as grafted or restored when it epithelialized spontaneously. Topical treatment consisted of tretinoin (0.01-0.05%) and glycolic acid (5-7%) over a 3-month period. With the mouth opened maximally, the interdental (D) and interlabial (L) distances were measured using a digital caliper. Significant increases in D and L distances were observed after treatment, as compared with controls (p < 0.01). These results were similar in the restored and skin-grafted groups.