Comprehensive approach to the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with facial nerve neuropathy at different periods of the disease
Authors: Zavaliy L. B. , Ramazanov G. R. , Chekhonatskaya K. Ig. , Sinkin M. V. , Seliverstova E. G. , Semenov L. L. , Grin A. A. , Polunina N. A. , Kasatkin D. S. , Airapetian A. E. , Askerov E. D. , Kutrovskaia N. Yu. , Petrikov S. S. 
Published: March 2022

Diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with facial neuropathy (FN) is a significant medical problem. The aim of the work was to create, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of an internal algorithm for working with patients suffering from FN.

Material and methods. The study included 53 patients: group 1 (n = 27) — treatment in the first 2 weeks from the moment of development of symptoms, group 2 (n = 11) — for more than 2 weeks to 3 months, group 3 (n = 15) — for more than 1 year. The algorithm of diagnosis and treatment were created in the N.V. Sklifosovskii Research Institute of Emergency Medical Care. It includes a multidisciplinary approach, teamwork and continuity.

Results. In patients with FN diff erent genesis, at the beginning of treatment in the acute period, complete restoration of the function of the facial nerve and facial muscles occurred in 74% of cases in the period from 2 weeks to 9 months, the period depended on the severity of clinical manifestations (House–Brackmann scale) (r = 0.539, p = 0.014), the degree of nerve damage according to electroneuromyography (ENMG) (r = 0.595, p = 0.006), the severity of complications (contractures and synkinesias) (r = 0.524, p = 0.018). In patients with idiopathic FN, at the beginning of treatment in the acute period, complete recovery was observed in 81.3% of cases. At the beginning of treatment of patients with a disease period of more than a year, conservative tactics led to an improvement in 67% of cases.

There was an incomplete correspondence between the clinical (House–Brackmann scale) and degree of nerve damage according to ENMG (r = 0.620, p = 0.004). ENMG should be performed when the House–Brackmann is VI degree. In cases of a decrease in the amplitude of the M-response by 90% or more compared to the healthy side, needle myography (IMG) is indicated. In the absence of motor unit potentials (PDE), it is necessary to consider the issue of surgical treatment, which is indicated in the acute period of FN to every 10 patients, and after a year in cases of lack of recovery — to every second.

FN should be considered a progressive disease due to the development of complications, such as the consequences of lagophthalmos, contracture, synkinesia. Lagophthalmos occurs in 73.5% of patients with various consequences — from dry eye syndrome to corneal ulcers, so it is important to use local protective and regenerating drugs early to prevent the development of keratopathies, even with a mild degree of lagophthalmos. Hypertonus of facial muscles is formed already on the 7th day of the disease on the healthy side of the face in an average of 67% of patients, and in the absence of timely treatment — in more than 90% of patients. Synkinesia develops in the period from 4 months to a year in every fifth patient. Timely detection and correction of complications prevents their further development and leads to a complete restoration of the facial nerve function.

The success of recovery in FN depends more on identifying the risks of complications and carrying out their prevention. Risk factors for the development of contractures and synkinesias are: prosoplegia, facial nerve damage by more than 90% according to ENMG and gross exercises. FN, despite the different causes of its development, clinically has similar sanogenetic mechanisms, which should be used in rehabilitation.