Robin W. Lindsay

Comprehensive Facial Rehabilitation Improves Function in People With Facial Paralysis: A 5-Year Experience at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Background The Facial Grading Scale (FGS) is a quantitative instrument used to evaluate facial function after facial nerve injury. However, quantitative improvements in function after facial rehabilitation in people with chronic facial paralysis have not been shown. Objective The objectives of this study were to use the FGS in a large series of consecutive subjects with facial paralysis to quantitatively evaluate improvements in facial function after facial nerve rehabilitation and to describe the management of chronic facial paralysis. Design The study was a retrospective review. Methods A total of 303 individuals with facial paralysis were evaluated by 1 physical therapist at a tertiary care facial nerve center during a 5-year period. Facial rehabilitation included education, neuromuscular training, massage, meditation-relaxation, and an individualized home program. After 2 months of home exercises, the participants were re-evaluated, and the home program was tailored as necessary. All participants were evaluated with the FGS before the initiation of facial rehabilitation, and 160 participants were re-evaluated after receiving treatment. All participants underwent the initial evaluation at least 4 months after the onset of facial paralysis; for 49 participants, the evaluation took place more than 3 years after onset. Results Statistically significant increases in FGS scores were seen after treatment (P<.001, t test). The average initial score was 56 (SD=21, range=13–98), and the average score after treatment was 70 (SD=18, range=25–100). Limitations A limitation of this study was that evaluations were performed by only 1 therapist. Conclusions For 160 patients with facial paralysis, statistically significant improvements after facial rehabilitation were shown; the improvements appeared to be long lasting with continued treatment. The improvements in the FGS scores indicated that patients can successfully manage symptoms with rehabilitation and underscored the importance of specialized therapy in the management of facial paralysis.

Thin-profile platinum eyelid weighting: a superior option in the paralyzed eye.

Background: A devastating sequela of facial paralysis is the inability to close the eye. The resulting loss of corneal protection can lead to exposure keratitis, corneal ulceration, and potentially permanent vision loss. Methods to address lagophthalmos historically have included tarsorrhaphy, lid weighting, levator palpebrae superioris lengthening, chemodenervation to yield protective ptosis, and the placement of magnetic eyelid springs. The gold eyelid weight, introduced nearly 50 years ago, continues to enjoy immense popularity, despite high complication rates and nearly uniform visibility under the skin. The authors hypothesized that a commercially available, thin platinum weight would combat the visibility of the thicker gold weights and herein compare complication rates and visibility rates with literature-reported data for gold weights. Methods: Beginning in 2004, 100 consecutive patients presenting to the authors’ Facial Nerve Center with paralytic lagophthalmos requiring intervention were treated with thin-profile platinum eyelid weights. Ninety-six percent of cases were performed under local anesthesia in the office setting. Results: Median follow-up was 22 months. In 102 weights placed, there have been six complications (5.9 percent): three extrusions, two capsule formations, and one case of astigmatism. All of the extrusions involved irradiated patients with parotid malignancies. Conclusions: The authors report the first large series of thin-profile platinum eyelid weight implantations for the treatment of lagophthalmos. This implant significantly reduces both capsule formation phenomena and extrusion compared with gold weights and should be considered as alternative to the more conventional gold implants.

Surgical Treatment of the Periocular Complex and Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients With Facial Paralysis

OBJECTIVE A devastating sequela of facial paralysis is the inability to close the eye. The resulting loss of corneal protection can potentially lead to severe consequences. Eyelid weight placement, lower eyelid suspension, and brow ptosis correction are frequently performed to protect the eye. We sought to measure and report the change in quality of life (QOL) after surgical treatment of the periocular complex, using the validated Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) QOL instrument. METHODS From March 2009 to May 2010, 49 patients presenting to the Facial Nerve Center with paralytic lagophthalmos requiring intervention were treated with static periocular reanimation. Thirty-seven of the patients completed preoperative and postoperative FaCE surveys. RESULTS Overall QOL, measured by the FaCE instrument, significantly improved following static periocular treatment. Mean FaCE scores increased from 44.1 to 52.7 (P < .001). Patients also reported a significant decrease in the amount of time their eye felt dry, irritated, or scratchy (P < .001). The amount of artificial tears and/or ointment also significantly decreased (P = .03). There were 2 cases of localized cellulitis with 1 eyelid weight extrusion. CONCLUSIONS We report the first series of postoperative QOL changes following static periocular treatment for paralytic lagophthalmos. Patients report a notable improvement in periocular comfort and overall QOL.

Development of a Murine Model of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a mouse model of chronic eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: Mice were sensitized to Aspergillis fumigatus (Af) extract by intraperitoneal injection. The animals subsequently received nasal challenges with Af extract 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Sinonasal complexes were studied histologically by the study otolaryngologists and pathologists to characterize the inflammatory response. SETTING: Animal care facility at an academic institution. RESULTS: A chronic eosinophilic inflammatory response was evoked in all study animals. Statistical analysis was performed for inflammation, secretory cell hyperplasia, mast cells, and eosinophils. There were very significant differences (P < 0.0005) between control and study mice in all categories. CONCLUSION: Prolonged nasal challenge of Af extract creates an inflammatory response in murine nasal mucosa that mimics human chronic eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. SIGNIFICANCE: A murine model for chronic rhinosinusitis is reported that may facilitate future investigations into disease pathophysiology. EBM rating: B-2

Objective Outcomes Analysis Following Microvascular Gracilis Transfer for Facial Reanimation: A Review of 10 Years’ Experience

IMPORTANCE Objective assessment of smile outcome after microvascular free gracilis transfer is challenging, and quantification of smile outcomes in the literature is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE To report objective excursion and symmetry outcomes from a series of free gracilis cases and investigate the predictive value of intraoperative measurements on final outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective medical chart review was undertaken of all patients who underwent microvascular free gracilis transfer for smile at our institution over the past 10 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Outcome measures included the following: smile excursion, angle of smile with respect to the vertical midline, and facial symmetry during repose and with smile. Measurements were obtained using an automated tool for assessment of facial landmarks (FACE-Gram). An exhaustive set of intraoperative parameters including degree of recoil of the gracilis muscle following harvest, the degree to which the muscle foreshortened during stimulation of the obturator nerve, final stretched length of the inset muscle, surgeon assessment of neurorrhaphy and pulse pressure, ischemia time, number of sutures used during neurorrhaphy, nerve used to innervate the flap, and surgeon assessment of oral commissure overcorrection were recorded and placed into a linear regression model to investigate correlations with smile. RESULTS From March 2003 to March 2013, 154 microvascular free gracilis transfers were performed for facial reanimation at our institution, 14 (9%) of which were deemed failures. Of the remaining 140 flaps, 127 fulfilled inclusion criteria and constituted the study cohort. Smile excursion, angle excursion, and symmetry of the oral commissure at repose and with smile all improved following gracilis free flap (P < .05). Associations between selected outcomes measures and intraoperative gracilis measurements were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Facial reanimation using free gracilis transfer results in quantifiable improvements in oral commissure excursion and facial symmetry both at rest and with smiling. Associations between contractility and internal recoil of the flap and final outcome were identified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4

Disease-specific quality of life outcomes in functional rhinoplasty.

The goal of this study was to assess disease‐specific quality of life as well as cosmetic outcomes following functional rhinoplasty in adults with nasal obstruction.

The effect of electrical and mechanical stimulation on the regenerating rodent facial nerve

Investigators have long sought realistic methods to accelerate regeneration following nerve injury. Herein, we investigated the degree to which manual target muscle manipulation and brief electrical stimulation of the facial nerve, alone or in combination, affects recovery following rat facial nerve injury.

The success of free gracilis muscle transfer to restore smile in patients with nonflaccid facial paralysis.

BackgroundDevelopment of synkinesis, hypertonicity, and poor smile excursion after facial nerve insult and recovery contribute to disfigurement, psychological difficulties, and an inability to convey emotion via facial expression. Despite treatment with physical therapy and chemodenervation, some patients who recover from transient flaccid facial paralysis never spontaneously regain the ability to perform a meaningful smile. MethodsProspective evaluation was performed on 20 patients with nonflaccid facial paralysis who underwent free gracilis muscle transfer. Patients were evaluated using the quality-of-life (QOL) FaCE survey, Facial Nerve Grading Scale, and Facegram to quantify QOL improvement, smile excursion, and symmetry after muscle transfer. ResultsA statistically significant increase in the FaCE score was seen after muscle transfer (paired 2-tailed t test, P < 0.039). In addition, there was a statistically significant improvement in the smile score on the Facial Nerve Grading Scale (P < 0.002), in the lower lip length at rest (P = 0.01) and with smile (P = 0.0001), and with smile symmetry (P = 0.0077) after surgery. ConclusionsFree gracilis muscle transfer has become a mainstay in the management armamentarium for patients who develop severe reduction in oral commissure movement after facial nerve insult and recovery. The operation achieves a high overall success rate, and innovations involving transplanting thinner segments of muscle avoid a cosmetic deformity secondary to excess bulk. This study demonstrates a quantitative improvement in QOL and facial function after free gracilis muscle transfer in patients who failed to achieve a meaningful smile after physical therapy.

A systematic algorithm for the management of lower lip asymmetry

PURPOSE An asymmetric smile, caused by loss of function of the lip depressors, can be functionally and cosmetically debilitating. Although some surgeons report excellent results with muscle transfer to the lower lip, many facial reanimation surgeons find that dynamic techniques do not consistently address the lower lip. Our objectives were to retrospectively review our outcomes after treatment of the asymmetric lower lip, and to propose a progressive, stepwise algorithm for the management of lower lip asymmetry in facial paralysis. MATERIAL/METHODS Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients treated in a multidisciplinary facial nerve center with lower lip asymmetry over an eighteen month period. Treatment ranged from a temporary trial of lidocaine, to chemodenervation with botulinum toxin, to pedicled digastric muscle transfer, and/or resection of the nonparetic depressor labii inferioris (DLI). RESULTS Fifty-seven patients were treated with chemodenervation with botulinum toxin, four with anterior belly of the digastric transfer, and 3 with DLI resection. All patients with DLI resection had undergone chemodenervation to the contralateral lower lip with botulinum toxin and were pleased with the appearance of their smile. CONCLUSIONS We have found that lower lip asymmetry is optimally managed by adherence to a standardized protocol that offers patients insight into the likely outcome of chemodenervation or surgery and progresses systematically from the reversible to the irreversible. We present our algorithm for the management of the asymmetric lower lip, which reflects this graduated approach and has resulted in high patient satisfaction.

Nimodipine and Acceleration of Functional Recovery of the Facial Nerve After Crush Injury

OBJECTIVE To establish whether nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, accelerates or otherwise improves functional recovery of whisking after facial nerve crush injury in the rat. METHODS Thirty rats underwent exposure of the left main trunk of the facial nerve followed by a standard crush injury and subsequent quantitative facial movement testing. Animals were randomized into an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Four days prior to facial nerve manipulation, experimental animals underwent subcutaneous implantation of a nimodipine-secreting pellet. All animals were tested preoperatively and on postoperative days 2, 8 to 17, 20, 22, 24, and 31 using a validated, quantitative whisking kinematics apparatus. Whisks were analyzed for amplitude, velocity, and acceleration. RESULTS Animals receiving nimodipine demonstrated significantly better whisking on 5 days (postoperative days 9, 11 to 13, and 20) compared with control animals (P < .001, P = .003, P = .009, P = .009, and P = .009, respectively; 1-tailed ttest). Overall, the nimodipine-treated animals showed earlier recovery compared with the untreated animals. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that nimodipine improves recovery of whisking after facial nerve crush. This finding corroborates the semiquantitative findings of others, and provides complete whisking kinematic data on its effects. Given the low adverse effect profile of nimodipine, there may be clinical implications in its administration in patients experiencing facial nerve injury.