Evaluation and treatment of synkinesis with botulinum toxin following facial nerve palsy

Abstract

Purpose. To assess the effect and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in reducing synkinesis in aberrant facial nerve regeneration (following facial paralysis).

Method. A total of 55 sessions of BTX-A (Botox®) infiltration were performed on 30 patients (23 female) with synkinesis after facial palsy. Each subject was injected with 2.5 units of BTX-A in each injection site (the sites were chosen on a case-by-case basis). The synkinetic muscles targeted include: orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus major, depressor labii inferioris, platysma, healthy frontalis and healthy corrugator supercilii. The patients were examined using the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System, both before the BTX-A treatment and after an average of 35 days.

Results. All 30 patients experienced improvement to the synkinesis after treatment. Total scores: median pre-BTX-A: 40; post 53 p = 0.004. Resting symmetry scores: mean pre-BTX-A −7.1; post: −3.5; median pre −5 [interquartile range (IQR) −10 to −5]; post: −5 (IQR −5 to 0); p = 0.0001. Symmetry of voluntary movement median pre-BTX-A: 56 post 60 p = 0.10. Synkinesis scores: median pre-BTX-A: −9 post −3 p < 0.0001. Mean duration of improvement was 4 months.

Conclusions. BTX-A injection treatment was effective in reducing facial synkinesis, thus improving facial expression symmetry both at rest and in voluntary movements.

Keywords:

• Facial palsy
• synkinesis
• botulinum toxin

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.