Restoration of orbicularis oculi muscle function with totally implanted artificial facial nerve

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of the artificial facial nerve on the restoration of orbicularis oculi muscle function for unilateral peripheral facial paralysis in rabbit. Methods: Artificial facial nerve was implanted into the rabbit with unilateral peripheral facial paralysis between January 2018 and May 2019. At different time points after operation, the affected orbicularis oculi muscles' stimulation closure threshold and the synchronism about the motion of the two sides of orbicularis oculi muscles were monitored. T test was used with SPSS 13.0 software. Results: There was no significant difference in the closure threshold of the orbicularis oculi muscle on the 7th and 28th days after artificial facial nerve implantation (P>0.05). The synchronism of the normal side eye closing movement triggered the affected orbicular oculi muscle movement with the artificial facial nerve was up 19/20 to 20/20 at different times. Conclusions: The artificial facial nerve system had the features of stable working condition and high synchronizing effect for stimulating movement. It could restore the closed eye function in animals with peripheral facial paralysis animals and had great clinical application prospects.