Bell's palsy: management of sequelae using EMG rehabilitation, botulinum toxin, and surgery

Fifteen percent of patients who have had an acute episode of Bell's palsy will be left with debilitating facial dysfunction. This chapter describes our approach to managing a variety of hypo- and hyperkinetic disorders caused by injury and faulty regeneration of the facial nerve, using electromyographic rehabilitation (EMGR) (13 patients), Oculinum toxin injection (14 patients), or surgical reanimation (72 patients). Improvement was noted after EMGR in 12 of 13 patients (92%), all 14 patients treated with Oculinum experienced temporary improvement, and improvement was noted in 66 of 72 patients who underwent surgery (92%). The indications, techniques, and results of these three rehabilitative methods are discussed.