title: A facegram for spatial-temporal analysis of facial excursion: applicability in the microsurgical reanimation of long-standing paralysis and pretransplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several techniques available for facial reanimation, but clinicians do not have a simple tool to provide an objective and quantitative spatial-temporal analysis of facial movement in order to compare medical, surgical and physical therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed specialized software capable of simultaneously tracking the position over time of a number of anatomical points. This method was tested in 5 different clinical situations: one normal subject, and 4 patients with facial disfigurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large amount of quantitative information can be extracted directly, such as symmetry assessment in the contraction and relaxation trajectories. The fact that this plot is on scale allows also direct measurements such as maximal extensions. Even smiles that at the macro-scale are essentially symmetrical show at the micro-scale small asymmetries/variability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this paper, we describe a novel quantitative, reliable method, which accurately assesses the fundamental aspects of the facial excursion, incorporating spatial and temporal components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, and Burn Unity Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: ricardojmhorta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.affiliation: CMUP - Center for Mathematics of University of Porto, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; Spinal Neuronal Networks Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, and Burn Unity Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, and Burn Unity Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, and Burn Unity Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Amarante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000473:pathology; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005149:Facial Expression; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D057918:Fiducial Markers; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000637:transplantation; D012904:Smiling; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Facegram; Facial reanimation; Facial transplantation; Spatial–temporal analysis