title: Correlation of functional recovery with the course of electrophysiological parameters after free muscle transfer for reconstruction of the smile in irreversible facial palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine whether processes of denervation and reinnervation, as measured by electrodiagnostic methods, correlate with clinical function, as measured by three-dimensional (3D) video analysis and whether electrodiagnostic data can serve as a prognostic indicator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with facial palsy were investigated by 3D video analysis, needle electromyography, and electrical muscle testing at 6, 12, and 18 months after free muscle transplantation for smile reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrophysiological parameters determined 6 months postoperatively correlated significantly with the index of dynamic symmetry 12 and 18 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Processes of reinnervation can be detected earlier by electrophysiological analysis than by quantified clinical analysis. Pathological spontaneous activity alone and combined assessment with motor unit action potentials in the early postoperative stage are strong prognostic indicators.
authors: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. maria.michaelidou@meduniwien.ac.at
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Michaelidou
authors: Malvina
authors: M
authors: Herceg
authors: Othmar
authors: O
authors: Schuhfried
authors: Chieh-Han John
authors: CH
authors: Tzou
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Pona
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Hold
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Mittlböck
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Paternostro-Sluga
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Frey
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012904:Smiling / Q000502:physiology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*