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Objective facial motion analysis in patients with facial nerve dysfunction.
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, NY 10003, U.S.A. clinstrom@nyee.edu
The Laryngoscope
|August 10, 2002
Summary
This study introduces a video-computer system for objective facial motion measurement, proving sensitive to facial dysfunction and synkinesis. The system accurately quantifies facial asymmetry, aiding in assessing treatment outcomes for facial nerve disorders.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging and biomechanics
- Facial nerve function analysis
- Quantitative motion analysis
Background:
- Assessing facial motion objectively is crucial for diagnosing and managing facial nerve dysfunction.
- Traditional methods often lack precision in quantifying subtle facial movements and asymmetry.
Observation:
- A video-computer interactive system (The Peak Motus Motion Measurement System) was employed to measure linear displacement at facial landmarks.
- The study included 34 subjects with normal facial function and 26 with abnormal facial function.
- Two expressions (eyes closed, closed-lip smile) were analyzed for percent asymmetry in facial displacement.
Findings:
- The system demonstrated high sensitivity (95%) in detecting facial dysfunction.
- Synkinesis was detected in 58% of patients with abnormal facial function.
- Excessive motion on the unaffected side was observed in 27-35% of patients, suggesting overcompensation.
Implications:
- This objective measurement system is valuable for assessing facial motion and quantifying synkinesis.
- It can aid in evaluating the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatments for facial nerve disorders.
- A proposed grading system for synkinesis magnitude can standardize assessments.