Journal
ANNALS OF PLASTIC SURGERY
Volume 68, Issue 1, Pages 97-100Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3182115245
Keywords
Mobius syndrome; facial palsy; brain plasticity
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Background: Mobius syndrome is mainly characterized by bilateral facial palsy. Facial reanimation of these children is achieved by microsurgical techniques, namely free-gracilis muscle innervated by the masseteric nerve. Notorious commissure excursion and speech improvement are reported with such procedure. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of cortical reorganization after injury and repair of different segments of the body. Intensive training of a behaviorally relevant task is key in this process. Case Report: A 4-year-old patient with complete bilateral facial palsy secondary to Mobius syndrome was operated with left hemiface free-gracilis muscle transplant innervated by the masseteric nerve and submitted for postoperative physiotherapy. Eight months later, bilateral movement was noted. Conclusions: Brain plasticity is likely to play an important role in smile restoration in patients with bilateral facial palsy. Intensive physiotherapy and psychosocial relevance of facial expression might be key in such phenomenon.
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