title: Facial nerve regeneration after facial allotransplantation: A longitudinal clinical and electromyographic follow-up of lip movements during speech.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial allotransplantation constitutes a reconstructive option after extensive damage to facial structures. Functional recovery has been reported but remains an issue.
  A patient underwent facial allotransplantation after a ballistic injury with extensive facial tissue damage. Speech motor function was sequentially assessed clinically, along with repeated electromyography of lip movements during a follow-up of 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Facial nerve recovery could be demonstrated within the first month, followed by a gradual increase in electromyographic amplitude and decrease in reaction times. These were accompanied by gradual improvement of clinical assessments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Axonal recovery starts early after transplantation. Electromyographic testing is sensitive in demonstrating this early recovery, which ultimately results in clinical improvements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. Electronic address: miet.deletter@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Miet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Letter
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aerts
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santens
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vermeersch
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stillaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blondeel
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristiane
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Lierde
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D054445:Facial Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011930:Reaction Time; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Electromyography; Facial allotransplant; Facial nerve; Regeneration