1/12. Salivary duct carcinoma of the parotid gland: a case report.The authors report a case of a salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) of the parotid gland revealed by a facial palsy. The clinical and pathological features of this highly malignant neoplasm are described. The aggressive nature of this form demands a combined chemo-radio-surgical treatment; only early recognition and treatment are likely to result in a favourable outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. Blink reflex and discomplete facial nerve palsy.BACKGROUND: Electrophysiologic findings of the blink reflex in patients with Bell's palsy are usually said to be either prolonged latencies and/or absent early and middle responses of it. methods: facial nerve conduction and blink reflex studies were performed on a 42-year-old male patient with right-side Bell's palsy. Studies were done using protocols previously validated and published elsewhere. RESULTS: The right compound muscle action potential was not found after stimulation of the right facial nerve as expected. Absence of the short (R1) and middle (R2) responses of the blink reflex were also noted after right and left supraorbital nerve stimulation. Further, the late (R3) response of the blink reflex was displayed on the abnormal side when electrical stimuli were applied to the right supraorbital nerve while the patient attempted to perform voluntary movement of the paralyzed facial muscles including eye closing. CONCLUSIONS: The recording of R3-a late response following fibers and using motoneurons other than those employed by R1 and R2-on the paralyzed side after performing some reinforcement maneuvers allows us to suggest that, in some facial nerve palsies, there are some structures remaining alive that may be useful for carrying out a more timely and accurate diagnosis and follow-up.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 207.16681324357keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. Acute onset of facial nerve palsy associated with lyme disease in a 6 year-old child.Pediatric facial nerve palsy (FNP) can result from a variety of etiologies including lyme disease, varicella, primary gingivostomatitis, herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome), coxsackievirus, trauma, otitis media, hiv, diseases causing tumors or demyelinations, compressions, and possibly Epstein Barr virus. lyme disease has been implicated as the cause of over 50% of the FNPs in children. The paralysis of the facial nerve disturbs motor function to the muscles of facial expression and results in a flaccid appearance of the face (unilateral or bilateral). This case report derails undiagnosed lyme disease presenting as a facial palsy in a 6 year, 5 month-old white female. The palsy was recognized and consultation with the child's physician prompted definitive diagnosis and treatment. A review of the literature and the implications of facial nerve palsy are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 103.58340662179keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. Catamenial synkinetic retroauricular pain.A report of two female patients with persistent unilateral retroauricular pain and cranial synkinesis following Bell's palsy. pain occurred during menses in the first patient and was exacerbated by menses in the second patient. Retroauricular pain often precedes or follows Bell's palsy. pain normally disappears within 2 weeks from the onset of paralysis. Neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography of the head and cranial electrophysiological testing were performed. The first patient had severe right retroauricular pain during her menses for several years following Bell's palsy. Her brain MRI showed non-specific T2 white matter hyperintensities. On her electromyogram she had facial synkinesis with tonic motor unit discharges on her right orbicularis oris and mentalis muscles during sustained eye closure. The second patient reported hearing a sound over her left ear when she blinked or protruded her jaw after Bell's palsy. She had ipsilateral retroauricular pain, exacerbated during menses. Her brain MRI was normal. Electromyogram showed facial synkinesis. Chronic retroauricular pain, occurring or exacerbated during menses, may be a rare complication of Bell's palsy. It can be associated with facial subclinical synkinetic dystonia and trigemino-facial synkinesis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 103.58340662179keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. Neurovascularized free short head of the biceps femoris muscle transfer for one-stage reanimation of facial paralysis.The single-stage technique for cross-face reanimation of the paralyzed face without nerve graft is an improvement over the two-stage procedure because it results in early reinnervation of the transferred muscle and shortens the period of rehabilitation. On the basis of an anatomic investigation, the short head of the biceps femoris muscle with attached lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh was identified as a new candidate for microneurovascular free muscle transfer. The authors performed one-stage transfer of the short head of the biceps femoris muscle with a long motor nerve for reanimation of established facial paralysis in seven patients. The dominant nutrient vessels of the short head were the profunda perforators (second or third) in six patients and the direct branches from the popliteal vessels in one patient. The recipient vessels were the facial vessels in all cases. The length of the motor nerve of the short head ranged from 10 to 16 cm, and it was sutured directly to several zygomatic and buccal branches of the contralateral facial nerve in six patients. One patient required an interpositional nerve graft of 3 cm to reach the suitable facial nerve branches on the intact side. The period required for initial voluntary movement of the transferred muscles ranged from 4 to 10 months after the procedures. The period of postoperative follow-up ranged from 5 to 42 months. Transfer of the vascularized innervated short head of the biceps femoris muscle is thought to be an alternative for one-stage reconstruction of the paralyzed face because of the reliable vascular anatomy of the muscle and because it allows two teams to operate together without the need to reposition the patient. The nerve to the short head of the biceps femoris enters the side opposite the vascular pedicle of the muscle belly, and this unique relationship between the vascular pedicle and the motor nerve is anatomically suitable for one-stage reconstruction of the paralyzed face. As much as to 16 cm of the nerve can be harvested, and the nerve is long enough to reach the contralateral intact facial nerve in almost all cases. The lateral intermuscular septum, which is attached to the short head, provides "anchor/suture-bearing" tissue, allowing reliable fixations to the zygoma and the upper and lower lips to be achieved. In addition, the scar and deformity of the donor site are acceptable, and loss of this muscle does not result in donor-site dysfunction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1346.5842860832keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. The phenomenon of the late recovered Bell's palsy: treatment options to improve facial symmetry.BACKGROUND: Bell's palsy is an idiopathic neuropathy of cranial nerve VII, and the incidence ranges from 15 to 40 per 100,000. The majority of patients recover, but up to 16 percent of patients have significant sequelae. The phenomenon of the "late recovered" Bell's palsy has the following specific features and has not formerly been described: (1) tightening of the facial muscles, with a deepening nasolabial fold and reduced palpebral fissure; (2) blepharospasm; and (3) incomplete recovery of peripheral VIIth nerve branches, with ipsilateral forehead paralysis, reduced depressor anguli oris function, and poor excursion of the angle of the mouth on smiling. methods: Nonsurgical treatment involved four monthly botulinum toxin injections. patients had injections to paralyze the ipsilateral orbicularis oculi, contralateral forehead rhytides, and depressor anguli oris and to treat blepharospasm and muscle tightness. The effectiveness of the botulinum toxin injections on facial symmetry and patient appreciation of this were assessed by measuring brow height and teeth exposure before and 3 weeks after injection. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were followed up for a mean period of 37 months. The difference in brow height and teeth exposure after injection was less than preinjection measurements, but this did not reach statistical significance. Patient self-assessments showed improvements in their appreciation of the facial symmetry, ability to go out in public, and feelings of self-worth (visual analogue scale). Surgical treatment options include ipsilateral brow lift, division of the contralateral frontal branch, contralateral tarsorrhaphy to equalize the palpebral fissures, and bilateral upper blepharoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The true benefit of botulinum toxin injections was more apparent during facial animation and not when the face was static. The patients greatly appreciated the improvement in facial symmetry. Various treatment options are available to improve the quality of life for patients with late recovered Bell's palsy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 207.16681324357keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. Revisional operations improve results of neurovascular free muscle transfer for treatment of facial paralysis.BACKGROUND: Neurovascular free muscle transfer is currently the mainstay for smile reconstruction. However, problems such as excessive muscle bulk and dislocation of the transferred muscle attachment have been described. Furthermore, dynamic movements of the transferred muscle are sometimes too strong or too weak, resulting in facial asymmetry. In these cases, secondary revisional operations for the transferred muscle are required after neurovascular free muscle transfer. This report describes revisional operative procedures in detail and examines the extent of improvement of the smile by comparing preoperative and postoperative results. methods: Of 468 patients in whom neurovascular free muscle transfer was performed between 1977 and 2000, a total of 183 received revisional operations for the transferred muscle. Operations included revision of muscle attachment in 129 patients, debulking of the cheek in 114 patients, and fascia graft in 21 patients. RESULTS: Evaluation with the grading scale was performed in 117 of the 183 patients. Grading improved in 59 patients and worsened in seven patients. The remaining 51 patients displayed no change in grading. Differences between preoperative and post-operative grading were compared statistically, and revisional operations improved the grading score. CONCLUSIONS: Revisional operations are effective and important as secondary operations after neurovascular free muscle transfer. However, care must be taken not to damage the neurovascular pedicles.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1450.167692705keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. Bell's palsy-induced blepharospasm relieved by passive eyelid closure and responsive to apomorphine.OBJECTIVE: We describe the case of a woman with Bell's Palsy-induced blepharospasm (BPIB) of the right eye that appeared simultaneously with a complete left facial nerve palsy. The involuntary spasm was relieved by passive lowering of the upper eyelid on the paretic side. methods: The recovery curve of the blink reflex was evaluated on the non-paretic side in baseline conditions, after subcutaneous apomorphine and placebo administration and 8 months later, at recovery from the palsy. RESULTS: We found increased recovery of the test-R2 responses at short interstimulus intervals at baseline, which was normalised by apomorphine but not by placebo. At recovery the blink reflex R2 recovery curve returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrates for the first time a response of BPIB to a dopamine agonist. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings are in agreement with an animal model of blepharospasm that suggests a combined role of weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscle and a dysfunction of the dopaminergic system in the pathogenesis of this disorder.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 103.58340662179keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. facial paralysis caused by malignant skull base neoplasms.OBJECT: bell palsy remains the most common cause of facial paralysis. Unfortunately, this term is often erroneously applied to all cases of facial paralysis. methods: The authors performed a retrospective review of data obtained in 11 patients who were treated at a university-based referral practice between July 1988 and September 2001 and who presented with acute facial nerve paralysis mimicking bell palsy. All patients were subsequently found to harbor an occult skull base neoplasm. A delay in diagnosis was demonstrated in all cases. Seven patients died of their disease, and four patients are currently free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although bell palsy remains the most common cause of peripheral facial nerve paralysis, patients in whom neoplasms invade of the facial nerve may present with acute paralysis mimicking bell palsy that fails to resolve. Delays in diagnosis and treatment in such cases may result in increased rates of mortality and morbidity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. Familial Bell's palsy in females: a phenotype with a predilection for eyelids and lacrimal gland.The authors report a family with familial Bell's palsy affecting seven individuals, six of whom are females. This is a distinct subtype of Bell's palsy with a predilection for juvenile females, previously reported only very rarely. In conjunction with a review of the literature, this case suggests that this phenotype carries with it a greater risk of serious complications affecting the eyelids and lacrimal gland. These carry significant functional and cosmetic implications owing to aberrant regeneration of the seventh, sixth and possibly third cranial nerves, chronicity and relapses. Clinical features include synkinesis of the eyelids with the orbicularis oris causing synkinetic ptosis, recurrent paralytic ectropion, paralysis of facial muscles of expression with dry eye, hyperlacrimation (crocodile tears), and transient strabismus. Clinically, the decision to offer surgery in place of conservative treatment should consider the natural history of chronicity and relapses often seen with this subtype of familial Bell's palsy. Botulinum toxin injections are especially versatile in managing the complications associated with this phenotype.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 103.58340662179keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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