Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Facial palsy FP is a functional disorder of the facial nerve involving paralysis of the mimic muscles. In a year-old female patient, even 19 months after onset of FP, successful neurotization was still possible by a V-to-VII nerve transfer and cross-face nerve grafting. Our patient suffered from complete FP after vestibular schwannoma surgery.
With continuous application of electrostimulation ES therapy, the patient was able to bridge the period between the first onset of FP and neurotization surgery. The significance of ES for mimic musculature preservation in FP patients has not yet been fully clarified. More attention should be paid to this form of therapy in order to preserve the facial musculature, and its benefits should be evaluated in further prospective clinical studies. Keywords: Facial paralysis, Electrical stimulation, Neurotization, Cross face nerve graft, Craniofacial.
Facial palsy FP is a functional disorder of the facial nerve involving paralysis of the mimic musculature. Irreversibility may be assumed if no signs of improvement occur within 18 months after the primary manifestation of FP. The symptoms include excruciating impairments, such as facial asymmetry, limited eye closure, oral incontinence, social dysfunction, and depression [ 1 - 3 ].
In this case report, we describe a surprising effect of electrostimulation ES applied in a case of complete FP. A year-old female physiotherapist suffered from complete left peripheral FP after resection of a vestibular schwannoma World Health Organization grade I in August The patient was offered a neurotization procedure, which she initially refused.
It included an electrical current with a pulse width not exceeding milliseconds and a current strength of 10 mA. The device guidelines were followed, with the goal of achieving maximum muscle contraction using the least current possible. A reasonable impulse is considered to range from 1 to 4 seconds, with 4 seconds being recommended if the patient can actively support the muscle movement.
