Recovery Of Facial Function Research Articles

Innovative mobile app solution for facial nerve rehabilitation: a usability analysis.

Facial palsy after vestibular schwannoma surgery is temporary in many cases but can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Physical training-initially guided and subsequently performed by the patient-is of paramount importance for recovery of facial nerve function. The introduction of medical application software (apps) might improve therapy by maintaining motivation for daily home-based training and surveilling patients' rehabilitation progress. We developed a mobile app, "FACEsemper", for home-based facial nerve rehabilitation. This app guides patients through a daily training program comprising six variable exercises, each performed in three repetitions. The app allows the user to customize the exercise intensity for different facial areas and includes a reminder function for daily training. Additional features include photo documentation, a calendar function, training report generation, and the possibility of direct communication with the attending physician. The app's usability was prospectively investigated with 27 subjects, including 8 physicians, 9 patients with facial palsy and 10 healthy subjects, over a two-week period. Usability was assessed using various self-rating questionnaires (i.e., mHealth App Usability Questionnaire, MAUQ; System Usability Scale, SUS; Visual Aesthetics of Apps Inventory, VisAAI) and scores were compared across the groups. The participants reported an average smartphone use of 12.19 years and completed a mean number of 290 ± 163 facial exercises during the study period. Patients used the app significantly more frequently than the other two groups (p = 0.017). The average total scores of the questionnaires were: MAUQ 5.67/7, SUS 89.6/100, VisAAI 5.88/7 and specific rating 6.13/7. In particular, the simplicity of use and craftsmanship of the app were rated very highly. Usability scores did not significantly differ between groups. A primary limitation identified was malfunction of the daily reminder feature in some Android versions. This usability study demonstrated a positive user experience and excellent usability of the FACEsemper app. However, some limitations and areas for improvement were identified. As a next step, the app should be evaluated in a large patient cohort with facial palsy to determine its potential medical benefits for facial rehabilitation compared to traditional training methods.

Head and Neck Airbag Penetrating Injuries.

Airbags have significantly decreased fatalities in frontal vehicle accidents, but their deployment can lead to more severe injuries and rarely death. The authors present a case of a penetrating injury causing tissue loss in the left cheek, an "explosion" of the zygomatic arch, and facial nerve damage, discussing the management in the contest of literature examining similar injuries in the head and neck region. Reviewing English literature from 1995 to 2023, 9 patients experienced severe airbag-related penetrating head and neck injuries, in 3 cases resulting in death. In addition, we describe the case of a young male reporting a deep cheek laceration with facial nerve damage, tissue loss, and comminuted maxilla-zygomatic fracture; 48 hours after trauma, he underwent surgical reconstruction using a bilobed flap, direct suture of the resected masseter muscle, closed reduction of the comminuted zygomatic arch fracture, and direct neurorrhaphy of the lacerated facial nerve. Five months after surgery, facial nerve function recovery was observed. Mouth opening was restored, but a mixed low-medium hearing loss persisted for high frequencies. In another case marginal nerve damage was reported, but management is not described. The use of seat belts and airbags has led to a significant reduction in the incidence of facial fractures and fatalities after motor vehicle accidents, but at the same time, in some cases, complex facial trauma and/or penetrating injury can be observed. In case of suspected or certain facial nerve damage, it is mandatory to perform exploration and eventual reconstruction within 72 hours.

Impact of the orofacial muscular rehabilitation exercise on facial expression recovery post-orthognathic surgery

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of myofunctional rehabilitation of the orofacial muscles through specific exercises on the recovery of facial expression in patients following orthognathic surgery. Material and MethodsThe study included 62 patients who underwent Le Fort I and sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO). Patients were divided into two groups: the first group started immediate post-operative myofunctional rehabilitation of the orofacial muscles through specific exercises. In contrast, patients in Group II did not undergo any myofunctional rehabilitation post-operative exercises. The recovery of facial expressions postoperatively was evaluated in both calm and smiling states by comparing the differences between 3D facial scanning data of chosen facial anatomical structures collected at five key time points: pre-surgery (D0), 2 days (D2), 14 days (D14), 1 month (D30), and 3 months (D90) postoperatively. ResultsThe analysis revealed that characteristic angles and lengths experienced significant changes post-surgery, with ∠chRnchL and ∠chRsnchL decreasing at D2 and normalizing by D30 in the experimental group, while the control group showed a slower recovery, normalizing by D90. The ChL-R length decreased at D2, returning to normal by D30 in the experimental group and D90 in the control group. The height Li-Ls increased at D2 and normalized by D30 in calm and smiling expressions across single and double jaw surgery patients. These findings underscore the more rapid recovery in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05; P < 0.005; P < 0.0001). ConclusionInitiating myofunctional rehabilitation immediately following orthognathic surgery enhances facial muscle function recovery, improves patient confidence, and expedites social reintegration. This approach is crucial for functional and psychological benefits.

Evaluation of the Rehabilitation Effect of Nanometric Ion Medicine Steam Combined with Facial Muscle Training in the Treatment of Post-Stroke Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy

This work aimed to investigate the rehabilitation effect of nanometer ion medicine steaming combined with facial muscle training in the treatment of post-stroke peripheral facial nerve palsy (PFNP), and to analyze the therapeutic effect of artificial skin continuous negative pressure drainage on stroke pressure ulcers. 120 patients with post-stroke PFNP who were admitted to Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine were recruited and rolled into the medicine steaming group (MS group, nanometer ion medicine steam) and the joint group (J group, nanometer ion medicine steam plus facial muscle training). The treatment effects, facial functional recovery, and pressure ulcer treatment outcomes were compared between patients in different groups. Results: After treatment, the facial disability index scores and facial nerve function scores of both groups of patients greatly increased, with a more drastic increase in J group (P &lt; 0.05), so did the scores of various traditional Chinese medicine symptoms (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of patients in J group with facial function classified as level I or level II was obviously higher (P &lt; 0.05). The treatment effectiveness and satisfaction rate in J group were dramatically superior to in MS group (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: the joint treatment of nanometer ion medicine steam and facial muscle training has a significant effect in the rehabilitation of post-stroke PFNP, with faster facial functional recovery and higher patient acceptance.

Functional Outcome of single-stage facial reanimation surgery with radical parotidectomy.

Facial nerve sacrifice during radical parotidectomy impairs quality of life. This study assessed the effectiveness of simultaneous single-stage facial reanimation surgery with radical parotidectomy in restoring facial function. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent single-stage facial reanimation with radical parotidectomy. Techniques included selective reinnervation and orthodromic temporalis tendon transfer. Outcomes were measured using modified House-Brackmann and Terzis grades, Emotrics facial assessment, and the Facial Disability Index (FDI). Among thirteen patients (median age 54, 69% male), ten received selective reinnervation. Nine of these patients showed improved results of House-Brackmann grade III and Terzis grade 4-5. The remaining three underwent tendon transfer, achieving moderate functional outcomes. Emotrics analysis indicated balanced facial symmetry in the selective reinnervation group. FDI scores reflected satisfactory physical and social/well-being functions. Single-stage facial reanimation effectively restores facial function in patients undergoing radical parotidectomy. This approach offers significant benefits in early facial function recovery.

Effect of modified facial paralysis rehabilitation nursing on patients with facial paralysis after vestibular schwannoma surgery

Background and objectiveAfter vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, some patients exhibit different degrees of peripheral facial paralysis, which can seriously affect their quality of life. The recovery of facial nerve function after surgery typically takes a considerable amount of time; therefore, the recovery of facial nerve function depends mainly on the rehabilitation treatment and nursing after discharge. In the past, we implemented conventional paralysis rehabilitation nursing program for patients with facial paralysis due to VS surgery. However, several patients with facial paralysis have bad compliance and do not achieve ideal facial nerve function recovery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether modified facial paralysis rehabilitation nursing improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation of facial paralysis after VS surgery by analysing the clinical data of patients. MethodsWe screened the patients with facial paralysis after VS surgery from December 2019 to May 2023. The patients were divided into the conventional and modified groups based on the different nursing programs (conventional vs. modified facial paralysis rehabilitation nursing program) to compare the differences in facial nerve function, quality of life of patients, and compliance of rehabilitation between the two groups. ResultsWe analysed 128 patients with facial paralysis after VS surgery who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria; 65 and 63 patients in the conventional and modified group, respectively. The number of patients in the modified group with House–Brackmann grade changes >0 in facial nerve function was significantly higher than that in the conventional group 3 months after surgery (82.5 % vs 63.1 %, p = 0.01). Except for the lacrimal control score, the mean scores of the Chinese version of the FaCE scale were significantly higher in the modified group than those in the conventional group at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. ConclusionsThe modified facial paralysis rehabilitation nursing, i.e., integrated use of facial expressive muscle exercises and facial massage with video-assisted education, substantially improved the facial nerve function, quality of life, and compliance of rehabilitation nursing of patients with facial paralysis after VS surgery.

Clinical Experience With Acute Phase Repair of Facial Nerve Dissections.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the facial nerve recovery of patients with traumatic facial nerve transections after tension-free end-to-end nerve epineural anastomosis during the acute phase. A total of 11 patients with traumatic facial nerve transections during the acute phase were surgically treated in the authors' department from November 2016 to August 2022. The case data and imaging data were collected from the patients, and the House-Brackman evaluation system of the facial nerve was applied to assess the recovery of facial nerve function, and the higher the grade, the worse the facial nerve function. Of the patients, 90.9% recovered to H-B grade II or below, and there were differences in the degree of recovery of the facial nerve function among the branches, and the ones that recovered to H-B grade II or below after surgery were 100% of the zygomatic branch, of which 80% were H-B grade I, 100% of the buccal branch, of which 44.4% were H-B grade I, 88.9% of the marginal mandibular branch, and 66.7% of the temporal branch. The study showed that the recovery rate of young patients was better than that of middle-aged and old people, and the best recovery of each branch of the facial nerve was the zygomatic branch, followed by the buccal branch, the marginal mandibular branch, and the worse was the temporal branch.

Analysis of the effect of different facial nerve managements applied to tumor resection in the jugular foramen region

Objective:To summarize the results of different facial nerve management modalities applied to tumor resection in the jugular foramen region. Methods:The clinical data of 54 patients with tumors in the jugular foramen region who underwent surgery from January 2015 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed: 18 males and 36 females; Age ranges from 21 to 67 years, with an average age of 44.4 years; and median follow-up time: 12 months. The House-Brackmann（HB） grading system was applied to assess the patients' facial nerve function before surgery, 1-2 weeks after surgery and at the final follow-up （HBⅠ-Ⅱ grade for good function）: 42 cases with preoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅱ; partial facial nerve transposition（9 cases）, complete facial nerve transposition（28 cases）, and facial nerve excision and re-construction（17 cases） were used, respectively（stage Ⅰor Ⅱ）. Relevant factors affecting postoperative facial nerve function were analyzed. Results:Postoperative pathology confirmed 39 cases of paraganglioma, 9 cases of nerve sheath tumor, 3 cases of meningioma, and 1 case each of fibromucinous sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and intravascular myofibroma. Facial nerve function after partial facial nerve transposition was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 89%（8/9）; after complete facial nerve transposition was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 86%（24/28） in 28 cases; after facial nerve severance and reconstruction was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 2/7（Stage Ⅰ） and 0/3（Stage Ⅱ）, respectively. Tumor size and surgical approach were correlated with postoperative facial nerve function in patients with facial nerve transposition（P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in facial nerve function after complete and partial facial nerve transposition（P>0.05）. Conclusion:Intraoperative stretching of the facial nerve may be an important factor affecting facial nerve function during surgical treatment of tumors in the jugular venous foramen region; for patients with facial nerve dissection, facial nerve reconstruction should be adopted according to the situation, aiming at the recovery of facial nerve function.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of two anastomosis techniques in the treatment of facial nerve defects

Objective:To investigate the characteristics and prognosis of two anastomosis techniques in repairing facial nerve defects. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients who underwent facial nerve anastomosis（direct or rerouting） for facial nerve defects in our department from January 2012 to December 2021. Among them, 21 were male and 9 were female, with an average age of（37.53±11.33） years, all with unilateral onset. Preoperative House-Brackmann（H-B） facial nerve function grades were Ⅳ in 2 cases, Ⅴ in 9 cases, and Ⅵin 19 cases. The duration of facial paralysis before surgery was within 6 months in 21 cases, 6-12 months in 6 cases, and over 1 year in 3 cases. The causes of facial paralysis included 14 cases of cholesteatoma, 6 cases of facial neurioma, 6 cases of trauma, and 4 cases of middle ear surgery injury. Surgical approaches included 9 cases of the middle cranial fossa approach, 8 cases of labyrinthine-otic approach, 7 cases of mastoid-epitympanum approach, and 6 cases of retroauricular lateral neck approach. Results:All patients were followed up for more than 2 years. The direct anastomosis was performed in 10 cases: 6 cases with defects located in the extratemporal segment and 4 cases in the tympanic segment. Rerouting anastomosis was performed in 20 cases: 11 cases with defects located in the labyrinthine-geniculate ganglion, 4 cases from the internal auditory canal to the geniculate ganglion, 3 cases in the internal auditory canal, and 2 cases in the horizontal-pyramid segment. Postoperative H-B facial nerve grades were Ⅱ in 2 cases, Ⅲ in 20 cases, and Ⅳ in 8 cases, with 73.3%（22/30） of patients achieving H-B grade Ⅲ or better. Conclusion:Both direct and rerouting anastomosis techniques can effectively repair facial nerve defects, with no significant difference in efficacy between the two techniques. Most patients can achieve H-B grade Ⅲ or better facial nerve function recovery. Preoperative facial nerve function and duration of facial paralysis are the main prognostic factors affecting the outcome of facial nerve anastomosis.

Recurrent facial palsy: A CARE case report

IntroductionMiddle-ear adenoma is a rare benign endocrine tumor with slow progression, and can, in very rare cases, lead to recurrent peripheral facial palsy. Case reportA young man experienced three episodes of right peripheral facial palsy of incremental intensity, suggestive of barotrauma. CT and MRI found a tissue mass in the tympanic cavity, and biopsy diagnosed middle-ear adenoma. Electroneuromyography found 50% impairment of facial function. Closed right tympanoplasty with complete tumor resection enabled complete recovery of facial function within 1 month. DiscussionMiddle-ear adenoma is diagnosed on histology, as imaging on MRI can be non-specific, mimicking chronic otitis. Facial involvement is rare and is due to edematous compression of the vasa nervorum. Treatment is surgical, and follow-up should be prolonged. Palsy assessment on electroneuromyography indicates the urgency of treatment.

WITHDRAWN: Analysis of the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for neuromodulation in early Bell’s palsy: A prospective randomized controlled study

BackgroundThe current main treatment modality for Bell’s palsy (BP) is medication; however, some patients have a poor recovery or experience sequelae despite receiving medication. There is therefore an urgent need to explore new treatment modalities. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for neuromodulation in early BP. MethodsSeventy-four patients with BP were randomly assigned to a stimulation (n = 36) or control (n = 38) group. Patients in both groups were treated with conventional medication; the stimulation group also received high-frequency rTMS for 2 weeks. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 9 months. Facial function was assessed in patients at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up using the Facial Nerve Grading System (FNGS) 2.0. ResultsThere was a significantly larger decrease in FNGS 2.0 scores from before to after treatment in the stimulation group (7.08 ± 2.371) than in the control group (5.03 ± 2.615) (p = 0.001; decrease of 2.057, 95% confidence interval 0.898–3.216). Furthermore, the recovery time of cured individuals at follow-up was significantly shorter in the stimulation group than in the control group (Z = 2.157, p = 0.03), and the stimulated group had a lower complication rate than the control group (p = 0.026). ConclusionsrTMS-induced neuromodulation of the facial nerve trunk at the site at which it exits the mastoid foramen helps to promote the recovery of facial nerve function in BP patients, leading to earlier recovery and a reduced complication rate.

Electroacupuncture Promotes Functional Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury in Rats by Regulating Autophagy via GDNF and PI3K/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR. The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.

REFLEXOTHERAPY IN THE COMPLEX REHABILITATION OF FACIAL NEUROPATHY

Abstract. The article is devoted to one of the urgent problems of neurology – neuropathy of the facial nerve. Combined treatment of neuropathy of the facial nerve with reflexotherapy methods has been used for a long time, mainly when there is a delay in the recovery of its functions, primarily, the motor functions of facial muscles. The article also outlines the main theoretical principles of the “balancing hexagrams” technique and its practical implementation. A clinical case is also presented: neuropathy of the facial nerve with a delayed course. The methods of acupuncture diagnostics are described, the description of acupuncture correction is given, and the features of the “favorable” hexagram are considered. Purpose. To consider the peculiarities of the use of reflexology by the method of “balancing hexagrams” in the complex rehabilitation of neuropathy of the facial nerve with a delayed course. Scientific novelty. For the first time in our country, the method of compiling acupuncture prescriptions and acupuncture using the method of “balancing hexagrams” was used in the complex rehabilitation of neuropathy of the facial nerve with a slow course. Methods. We consider one clinical case of the use of reflexotherapy using the method of “balancing hexagrams” in complex rehabilitation of neuropathy of the facial nerve with a slow course. Methods of clinical objective neurological examination, syndromic diagnosis method of traditional Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis method, and tongue diagnosis method were used. Results. As a result of the treatment using the “balancing hexagrams” method, the patient's condition improved: there was an 80% recovery of facial muscle function on the left side (clinically, which is confirmed by electroneuromyography data). Conclusions: 1. Neuropathy of the facial nerve with a protracted course occurs in the practice of a neurologist and a reflexologist. 2. In the combined treatment measures for neuropathy of the facial nerve with a protracted course, the use of the reflexotherapy method “balancing hexagrams” can be effective.

Exogenous GDNF promotes peripheral facial nerve regeneration in rats through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Facial nerve regeneration still lacks a well-defined and practical clinical intervention. The survival of central facial motoneuron is a critical component in the successful peripheral facial nerve regeneration. Endogenous GDNF is vital for facial nerve regeneration according to earlier investigations. Nevertheless, the low endogenous GDNF level makes it challenging to achieve therapeutic benefits. Thus, we crushed the main trunk of facial nerve in SD rats to provide a model of peripheral facial paralysis, and we administered exogenous GDNF and Rapa treatments. We observed changes in the animal behavior scores, the morphology of facial nerve and buccinator muscle, the electrophysiological of facial nerve, and the expression of GDNF, GAP-43, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related molecules in the facial motoneurons. We discovered that GDNF could boost axon regeneration, hasten the recovery of facial paralysis symptoms and nerve conduction function, and increase the expression of GDNF, GAP-43, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related molecules in the central facial motoneurons. Therefore, exogenous GDNF injection into the buccinator muscle can enhance facial nerve regeneration following crushing injury and protect facial neurons via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This will offer a fresh perspective and theoretical foundation for the management of clinical facial nerve regeneration.

To Determine the Efficacy of Pentoxifylline in the Management of Bell's Palsy.

Bell's palsy is an acute, unilateral, lower motor neuron peripheral facial paralysis. It is the most common cause of facial paralysis in the ages ranging from 13 to 65 years. It not only causes physical disfigurement of face but is also associated with social stigma and psychological trauma to the patient. In Bell's Palsy, there is hypoxic damage to the nerve due to reduced blood flow and cellular injury to the capillaries. Pentoxifylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases the cAMP and cGMP levels at the site of the RBC cell membrane thereby improving the dexterity of the cell membrane allowing the RBCs to pass through the damaged and narrowed blood vessels thereby improving the perfusion and oxygen delivery to the damaged tissues. Vasoactive agents are not routinely used as an active component in the treatment. Since vascular compromise plays a predominant role in the pathophysiology of Bell's palsy, it is proposed that the addition of a vasoactive agent like Pentoxifylline can improve the recovery rate and shorten the duration of treatment in the management of Bell's Palsy. The study was conducted in the Department of ENT, BMCRI, Bangalore during the period February 2021 to August 2022. This is a prospective randomized control study which included 70 patients attending the out-patient department of ENT, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore. Written informed consent was taken from all patients included in the study. A detailed history, thorough clinical examination, and relevant investigations were done for these patients. Patients were randomly divided into Group A and Group B based on random numbers generated by the WINPEPI software version 11.65. The study group (Group A) received standard treatment in addition to Tab Pentoxifylline 400mg TID for 1 week. The control group (Group B) received only the standard treatment regimen. Patients were followed up on Days 5, 10, 15, and 6 months to assess recovery following treatment. The recovery of facial nerve function was evaluated as per the House-Brackmann Grading system for any improvement. Both pre-treatment and post-treatment HB grades were analyzed. The data collected were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA. The age distribution of the patients showed that the most common age group affected in this study was 18-30 years. Males were affected more than females (1.2:1). The most common HB grade at presentation noted in this study was Grade 4 in both groups (54.2%). At the beginning of the treatment, in Group A, around 43% patients had HB grade of 3 and 57% patients had HB grade of 4. In Group B, around 20% patients had HB grade 2, 28.57% patients with grade 3 and 51.43% patients with grade 4. After a follow-up period of 6 months, in Group A, around 43% of patients achieved a HB grade of 1, 51% patients achieved a grade of 2 and about 6% patients had a grade of 3. In Group B after a follow up period of 6 months, 29% patients achieved HB grade of 1, 46% patients achieved grade of 2 and 26% patients had a grade of 3. It was observed that 42.86% of patients had better outcomes (Normal facial function) in Group A (Study group) compared to 28.57% of patients in Group B (Control group). It is evident that a patient who presented with HB grades of 2 or 3 and who presented within 5 days had better chances of recovery which was statistically significant (p = 0.001). From the present study, it may be concluded that Bell's palsy occurs in all age groups. It affects younger age groups more commonly (2nd decade) and affects males more than females. The study group who had received Tab Pentoxifylline along with standard treatment had better outcome. This highlights the benefit of vasoactive agent in the management of Bell's palsy by improving the oxygen delivery to the affected tissues. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-04298-9.

The Effect of Age on Facial Nerve Recovery After Vestibular Schwannoma Resection.

The objective of this study is to assess the influence of age on facial nerve recovery after microsurgical resection of sporadic vestibular schwannoma. A historical cohort study was performed. The study was performed at a tertiary referral center. The studied cohort included patients with a House-Brackmann (HB) Grade III or worse in the immediate postoperative period. The studied intervention was microsurgical resection. The main outcome measure was complete recovery of facial nerve function to HB Grade I at least 12 months postoperatively. There were six patients with intracanalicular tumors and 100 with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors eligible for study. Given the few patients with intracanalicular tumors, no further analysis was pursued in this subset. For patients with CPA tumors, a multivariable analysis of several patient and tumor characteristics demonstrated age at surgery (odds ratio for 10-year increase of 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.98; p = 0.04) and immediate postoperative HB grade (odds ratio for one-grade increase of 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.50; p < 0.001) to be jointly significantly associated with complete recovery to HB Grade I, indicating that the likelihood of complete facial nerve recovery was higher for younger patients and for those with better immediate postoperative HB grades. For example, the predicted probability of complete facial nerve recovery for a 30-year-old with immediate postoperative HB Grade III was 0.76 (or 76% when expressed as a percentage), whereas the predicted probability for a 50-year-old with immediate postoperative HB Grade V was only 0.10. After considering immediate postoperative HB grade, younger age at surgery was independently significantly associated with complete facial nerve recovery, which can assist in intraoperative decision-making regarding extent of resection and postoperative counseling.

The Selective Trigeminal Nerve Motor Branching Transfer: an Preliminary Clinical Application for Facial Reanimation.

To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of selective trigeminal nerve motor branching in the repair of facial palsy. The clinical data of patients with advanced facial palsy from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including pictures and videos before and 18 months after surgery. The House-Brackmann grading system was used to evaluate facial nerve function before and after repair, and the symmetry scale of oral commissure at rest and Terzis' smile functional evaluation scale were used to qualitatively assess the symmetry of the mouth angle and smile function. The distance of oral commissure movement was assessed to evaluate the dynamic repair effect, and the FaCE facial muscle function scale was used to assess patients' subjective perception before and after surgery. A total of four patients were included in the study, all of whom showed signs of recovery of facial nerve function within six months. In all four cases, significant improvements were observed in House-Brackmann ratings, the smile function score and the symmetry scale of oral commissure at rest. Compared to the pre-operative period, the four patients demonstrated various degrees of eye-closing function recovery, and a significant improvement in oral commissure movement was observed ( P <0.001). FaCE scores also improved significantly after surgery ( P =0.019). Concurrent selective facial nerve repair with trigeminal branch-facial nerve anastomosis resulted in eye-closing function recovery while improving static and dynamic symmetry, yielding acceptable postoperative results.

Indications of and Efficacy of Facial Nerve Decompression Through Endoscopic Transcanal Approach for Patients with Traumatic Facial Paralysis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the indications and efficacy of facial nerve decompression through an endoscopic transcanal approach for patients with traumatic facial paralysis. This single-center retrospective study included 11 patients with traumatic facial paralysis from February 2018 to April 2019. We compared the facial nerve and auditory function before and after operation so as to reveal the feasibility and effect of the surgical approach. All 11 patients have successfully received facial nerve decompression through endoscopic transcanal approach. Facial nerve function was objectively evaluated by electroneurography test and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system. All patients were graded HB-VI with electroneurography ≥ 95% before surgery. The recovery of facial nerve function was good (HB-I or II) (90.9%) a year after surgery with only one case (9.1%) for HB-III. Preoperative high-resolution computed tomography showed that 1 patient had ossicular chain interruption, which was confirmed during operation. Meanwhile, 2 patients with air-bone gap >35 dBHL and whose computed tomography failed to diagnose were found with ossicular chain interruption during operation. The air-bone gap of patients with normal ossicular chain connection was all <30 dBHL. The average air-bone gap was reduced from 27.5 ± 10.1 dBHL to 7.8 ± 3.3 dBHL after operation. Preoperative high-resolution computed tomography combined with localization test can accurately estimate the location of facial nerve injury. Facial nerve decompression through endoscopic transcanal approach can decompress the geniculate ganglion to pyramidal segment of facial nerve, which is suitable for patients with traumatic facial paralysis of this segment. In addition, air-bone gap >35 dBHL may indicate the ossicular chain interruption when it is difficult to be completely judged by high-resolution computed tomography.

Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Nerve-Guided Facial Nerve Regeneration.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on poly(d,l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) in promoting the recovery of facial function and nerve regeneration after facial nerve (FN) injury in a rat model. In the experimental group, both the NGC and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ES) were used simultaneously; in the control group, only NGC was used. ES groups were divided into two groups, and direct current (DC) and charge-balanced pulse stimulation (Pulse) were applied. The ES groups showed significantly improved whisker movement than the NGC-only group. The number of myelinated neurons was higher in ES groups, and the myelin sheath was also thicker and more uniform. In addition, the expression of neurostructural proteins was also higher in ES groups than in the NGC-only group. This study revealed that FN regeneration and functional recovery occurred more efficiently when ES was applied in combination with NGCs.

Risk and characteristics of Bell's palsy in adults as an adverse event following COVID-19 vaccination: a retrospective study.

Although an association between COVID-19 vaccination and Bell's palsy (BP) has been reported, a clear causal relationship has not been elucidated. We investigated the risk and clinical characteristics of BP after COVID-19 vaccination. This retrospective chart review evaluated the association between COVID-19 vaccination and BP by comparing the number of patients diagnosed with BP during the pre-COVID-19 vaccination period (March 2018-February 2021) and the COVID-19 mass vaccination period (March 2021-February 2022). We then compared vaccine-related (time between vaccination and BP onset < 42days) and -unrelated (time interval ≥ 42days or non-vaccination) clinical characteristics in newly diagnosed patients with BP. BP occurred more during the COVID-19 vaccination period than in the previous three pre-vaccination years. Thirteen patients developed BP within 42days of vaccination. All patients, except one, developed BP after mRNA-based vaccination, with most cases (9/13, 69.2%) occurring after the second or third dose. Thirteen patients with vaccine-related BP were younger (age 43.92 ± 13.14 vs. 54.32 ± 16.01years; p = 0.033) and more frequently experienced taste changes (58.8% vs. 10.9%; p = 0.002) than 52 patients with vaccine-unrelated BP. Patients with vaccine-related BP had a greater likelihood of good and faster (p = 0.042) facial nerve function recovery than those with vaccine-unrelated BP (100% vs. 78%). COVID-19 vaccines, especially mRNA-based vaccines, may be associated with BP cases with distinctive clinical characteristics, which occur more frequently in young individuals, are frequently accompanied by taste changes, and have fast and good recovery.