title: Validation of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale for the assessment of smile reanimation surgery in facial paralysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale as a tool to assess facial reanimation surgery in facial palsy. Software analysis of digital video data is used to measure facial movements, comparing the affected to the normal side. We present the first use of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale following facial re-animation surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparison of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale against the Nottingham scoring system. Subjects undergoing unilateral surgical smile reanimation procedures were selected. Comparison was made with the Nottingham facial palsy scale and the House-Brackmann Scale pre- and postoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited in the facial palsy clinic of Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven consecutive patients were selected who were due to undergo unilateral facial reanimation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The difference in pre- and post-surgical facial movement as measured using the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale with this value being compared to that obtained using the Nottingham scoring system. Note was also taken of the correlation with House-Brackmann system and clinical correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical analysis indicated a linear relationship between the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale and the Nottingham System. The Pearson correlation test was used to confirm the relationship between the two methods giving a result of -0.587, which indicates significant correlation between the two methods. We conclude that the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale is a standardised objective method of assessing the change in facial movement following smile reanimation surgery. We commend it as a useful tool to objectively assess surgical results in this challenging field.
authors.affiliation: Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Scotland. romeoplastica@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005149:Facial Expression; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012904:Smiling; D012984:Software; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording