Yvonne Lenz1, Jurij Kiefer1, Franziska Dietrich1, G Björn Stark1, Steffen U Eisenhardt2. 1. Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. 2. Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: steffen.eisenhardt@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Synchronicity of the oral commissure movement of a bilateral smile is a significant goal for reconstruction in facial reanimation and may only be guaranteed with use of the facial nerve as a donor nerve. Yet over the years several studies report some degree of spontaneity in certain patients when using a non-facial donor nerve, which indicates that synchronous initiation of the smile might be achievable with other donor nerves. We designed a prospective cohort study to evaluate whether pre-operative involuntary activation of the masseteric nerve during smile predicts development of a synchronous smile development when using the masseteric nerve for reanimation. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study unilateral long-standing facial palsy patients scheduled for dynamic smile reanimation with a free functional muscle transplant using the masseteric nerve as a donor nerve were preoperatively evaluated via EMG for involuntary activation of the masseter muscle upon smiling, which we called coactivation. Postoperatively, six months after noting the first muscle contraction smile synchronicity was evaluated. We analyzed the synchronicity of the bilateral smile development by analyzing slow-motion video sequences of the patients that were taken while the patients were watching funny video sequences. Results were then correlated with the pre-operative EMG. RESULTS: 30 patients were recruited for this prospective study and underwent facial reanimation surgery with a free gracilis transfer innervated by the masseteric nerve. 19 patients demonstrated involuntary coactivation of the masseter muscle upon smiling and 11 did not. Postoperatively all patients could demonstrate a voluntary smile. 94% of patients who had preoperative coactivation showed a synchronous movement of the oral commissure when smiling. In those patients, that did not show activation of the masseter muscle upon smiling 0% showed synchronicity. The preoperative coactivation of the masseter muscle is able to predict the outcome regarding synchronicity of the smile with a sensitivity of 99.7%, a specificity of 88.5% and 92.5% positive predictive value and 99.6% negative predictive value (p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of masseter co-activation with smile predicts a lack of spontaneous involuntary smile after dynamic smile reconstruction using the masseteric nerve.
BACKGROUND: Synchronicity of the oral commissure movement of a bilateral smile is a significant goal for reconstruction in facial reanimation and may only be guaranteed with use of the facial nerve as a donor nerve. Yet over the years several studies report some degree of spontaneity in certain patients when using a non-facial donor nerve, which indicates that synchronous initiation of the smile might be achievable with other donor nerves. We designed a prospective cohort study to evaluate whether pre-operative involuntary activation of the masseteric nerve during smile predicts development of a synchronous smile development when using the masseteric nerve for reanimation. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study unilateral long-standing facial palsypatients scheduled for dynamic smile reanimation with a free functional muscle transplant using the masseteric nerve as a donor nerve were preoperatively evaluated via EMG for involuntary activation of the masseter muscle upon smiling, which we called coactivation. Postoperatively, six months after noting the first muscle contraction smile synchronicity was evaluated. We analyzed the synchronicity of the bilateral smile development by analyzing slow-motion video sequences of the patients that were taken while the patients were watching funny video sequences. Results were then correlated with the pre-operative EMG. RESULTS: 30 patients were recruited for this prospective study and underwent facial reanimation surgery with a free gracilis transfer innervated by the masseteric nerve. 19 patients demonstrated involuntary coactivation of the masseter muscle upon smiling and 11 did not. Postoperatively all patients could demonstrate a voluntary smile. 94% of patients who had preoperative coactivation showed a synchronous movement of the oral commissure when smiling. In those patients, that did not show activation of the masseter muscle upon smiling 0% showed synchronicity. The preoperative coactivation of the masseter muscle is able to predict the outcome regarding synchronicity of the smile with a sensitivity of 99.7%, a specificity of 88.5% and 92.5% positive predictive value and 99.6% negative predictive value (p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of masseter co-activation with smile predicts a lack of spontaneous involuntarysmile after dynamic smile reconstruction using the masseteric nerve.
Authors: Joseph R Dusseldorp; Martinus M van Veen; Diego L Guarin; Olivia Quatela; Nate Jowett; Tessa A Hadlock Journal: JAMA Facial Plast Surg Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 4.611