title: Correlation between electromyography and quantitative ultrasonography of facial muscles in patients with facial palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we correlated results of ultrasonographic muscle thickness and contractility with facial electromyography (EMG) in patients with unilateral peripheral acute or chronic facial palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty measurements of 4 facial muscles (frontalis, orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus, and orbicularis oris) were performed in 44 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Facial muscle thickness at rest and during muscle contraction correlated best with EMG insertional activity, and facial muscle contractility correlated with EMG voluntary activity. The correlation was much higher at >14 days after onset of facial palsy. The orbicularis oris, followed by the frontalis muscle, showed the best correlation between ultrasound and EMG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative ultrasound of facial muscles helps confirm the results of facial EMG and is of particular additional value in the first 14 days after onset when the reliability of EMG is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, D-07740, Jena, Germany.|Facial Nerve Center, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd Fabian
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, D-07740, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leier
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Lessingstrasse 2, D-07740, Jena, Germany.|Facial Nerve Center, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guntinas-Lichius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: electromyography; electrophysiology; facial muscles; facial nerve; facial palsy; mimetic muscles; quantitative ultrasound