Electric Stimulation ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Humans

Electrogustometry has become one of the most important and useful diagnostic methods as has audiometry and vestibular function tests in the otolaryngological field. Although much literature, concerning the facial nerve and gustatory function have appeared, still problems remain to be solved in future research. To these points of view, the anatomical relationships of the nerves associated with gustatory function were reviewed and discussed. And also the clinical importance and usability of electrogustometry is emphasized.
Chorda Tympani Nerve/anatomy & histology ; Facial Nerve/anatomy & histology* ; Facial Nerve/physiopathology ; Human ; Taste* ; Taste Disorders/physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the facial nerve contralateral innervation of patients with facial nerve injury.

METHODSElectroneuronography (ENoG) of 22 university student volunteers (US) without any injury and systemic diseases and 108 patients with facial nerve injury were measured. The patients were divided into three groups: iatrogenic, traumatic, and Bell's palsy groups. When stimulating the facial nerve at the site below the lobule and behind the ramus, ENoGs of each branch of the facial nerve on ipsilateral and contralateral sides were recorded. A total of 76 branch I, 81 branch II, 88 branch III, and 66 branch IV were measured.

RESULTS(1) There were no significant differences among three patient groups (P > 0.05). (2) The ratios of contralateral innervation of the branch I and II of the patients were significantly. greater than those of the US group (P < 0.001). (3) The ratio of contralateral innervation of the branch I was greater than that of the branch II in the patients (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe contralateral innervation of the facial nerve increases after facial nerve injured.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrophysiology ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in facial nerve function, morphology and neurotrophic factor III (NT-3) expression following three types of facial nerve injury. METHOD: Changes in facial nerve function (in terms of blink reflex (BF), vibrissae movement (VM) and position of nasal tip) were assessed in 45 rats in response to three types of facial nerve injury: partial section of the extratemporal segment (group one), partial section of the facial canal segment (group two) and complete transection of the facial canal segment lesion (group three). All facial nerves specimen were then cut into two parts at the site of the lesion after being taken from the lesion site on 1st, 7th, 21st post-surgery-days (PSD). Changes of morphology and NT-3 expression were evaluated using the improved trichrome stain and immunohistochemistry techniques ,respectively. RESULT: Changes in facial nerve function: In group 1, all animals had no blink reflex (BF) and weak vibrissae movement (VM) at the 1st PSD; The blink reflex in 80% of the rats recovered partly and the vibrissae movement in 40% of the rats returned to normal at the 7th PSD; The facial nerve function in 600 of the rats was almost normal at the 21st PSD. In group 2, all left facial nerve paralyzed at the 1st PSD; The blink reflex partly recovered in 40% of the rats and the vibrissae movement was weak in 80% of the rats at the 7th PSD; 8000 of the rats'BF were almost normal and 40% of the rats' VM completely recovered at the 21st PSD. In group 3, The recovery couldn't happen at anytime. Changes in morphology: In group 1, the size of nerve fiber differed in facial canal segment and some of myelin sheath and axons degenerated at the 7th PSD; The fibres' degeneration turned into regeneration at the 21st PSD; In group 2, the morphologic changes in this group were familiar with the group 1 while the degenerated fibers were more and dispersed in transection at the 7th PSD; Regeneration of nerve fibers happened at the 21st PSD. In group 3, most of the fibers crumbled at the 7th PSD and no regeneration was seen at the 21st PSD. Changes in NT-3: Positive staining of NT-3 was largely observed in axons at the 7th PSD, although little NT-3 was seen in the normal fibers. CONCLUSION Facial palsy of the rats in group 2 was more extensive than that in group 1 and their function partly recovers at the 21st PSD. The fibres' degeneration occurs not only dispersed throughout the injury site but also occurred throught the length of the nerve. NT-3 immunoreactivity increased in activated fibers after partial transection.
Animals ; Facial Nerve ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neurotrophin 3 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE: To observe the recovery process of facial behavior and function in rat, and then to supply reliable functional parameters for the researches in such fields. METHOD: Rat models of facial nerve paralysis were set up by sectioning and anastomosis of facial nerve. The behavioral change included whisker movement and blink reflex were observed weekly. Electroneurography (ENoG) and blink reflex (BR) were examined dynamically and all data were analyzed by statistic soft ware. RESULT: Postoperatively, the whisker movement ceased, blink reflex was lost or sluggish but the fibrillation of vibrissae appeared. Whisker movement and evoke blink reflex were seen 1-2 months following operation gradually, which subsequently increased in intensity and frequency. Mass contraction of the periauricular muscles were observed at the same time as eye closure 2 month following operation. The latency of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) at experimental side began to prolong at 21 day, reached climax at 1 month and was stabilized at 3-4 month postoperatively, but it could not get full recovery. The latencies of 28-63 day were longer than other time points (P<0.05). The amplitude and intensity didn't change characteristically. The R1 can be observed repetitively, which disappeared at 7-14 day and gradually recovered 1 month following operation. At experimental side, the R1-type wave (R1oris) in orbicularis oris could be observed at the same time as R1 recorded 2 month following operation, which indicated the facial synkinesis, one hyperkinetic post-paralytic sequela happened. Then the latency of both R1 and R1oris decreased concomitantly. There were correlations between them, but only the significant difference of R1oris latency presented between 2 month and other time points (P<0.05). CONCLUSION It is concluded that the methods of ENoG and BR could examine the recovery process of facial movement, which would help studying the pathophysiological mechanism of facial nerve injury and regeneration after being revised.
Anastomosis, Surgical ; Animals ; Blinking ; Facial Nerve ; surgery ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate peculiar patterns of facial asymmetry following incomplete recovery from facial paralysis that require optimal physical therapy for effective facial rehabilitation, and to decrease the incidence of avoidable facial sequelae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 41 patients who had facial sequelae following the treatment of various facial nerve diseases from March 2000 to March 2007. All patients with a follow-up of at least 1 year after the onset of facial paralysis or hyperactive function of the facial nerve were evaluated with the global and regional House-Brackmann (HB) grading systems. The mean global HB scores and regional HB scores with standard deviations were calculated. Other factors were also analyzed. RESULTS: Four patterns of facial asymmetry can be observed in patients with incomplete facial recovery. The most frequently deteriorated facial movement is frontal wrinkling, followed by an open mouth, smile, or lip pucker in patients with sequelae following facial nerve injury. The most common type of synkinesis was unintended eye closure with an effort to smile. CONCLUSION: We described common configurations of facial asymmetry seen in incomplete recovery following facial nerve injury in an attempt to develop an optimal strategy for physical therapy for complete and effective facial recovery, and to decrease the incidence of avoidable sequelae.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Face/physiopathology ; Facial Asymmetry/*physiopathology ; Facial Nerve/pathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries/physiopathology/therapy ; Facial Paralysis/physiopathology/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Treatment Outcome

Central Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Synapses ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of autogenous vein cuff and injection of cerebral cell growth peptide on the recovery of the injured facial nerve.

METHODSThe injured facial nerve was anastomosed and covered with an autogenous vein cuff. Cerebral cell growth peptide was then injected to it. The different repairing methods were evaluated and compared with electromyography and observing functional recovery of the mimetic muscles.

RESULTSThe new repairing method accelerated the recovery of the injured facial nerve. The recovery period of mimetic muscle function was significant shorter than the traditional method (P < 0.01). The recovery period of I-stage repairing was significant shorter than that of II--stage repairing (P < 0.01). The conduction velocity of the repaired facial nerves had no obvious differences between the new repairing method and the traditional method (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApplication of the autogenous vein cuff to cover the nerve anastomosis and injection of cerebral cell growth peptide is a promising method for facial nerve repairing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Growth Substances ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction ; Veins ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo study relationship between facial nerve root and its surrounding vessels.

METHODS49 sides facial nerve root and its surrounding vessel were dissected and observed.

RESULTSFacial nerve root and its surrounding vessels forming compression was found to be 24.5% (12/49), creating contact was found to be 14.3% (7/49). The main vessels compressed or (and) contacted facial nerve root were anterioinferior cerebellar artery (68.4%), posterioinferior cerebellar artery (4.1%), malformed vertebral artery (4.1%) and anterioinferior cerebellar vein.

CONCLUSIONSFacial nerve root compressed by offending vesselsare was mainly cause of hemifacial spasm.

Adult ; Blood Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; physiopathology ; Hemifacial Spasm ; physiopathology ; Humans

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Ear, Inner ; blood supply ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; Rabbits