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Updated: Dec 11, 2025
Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Motor Relearning After Hypoglossal-Facial Nerve Anastomosis
Kelly J Negley1, Alysha Rasool, Patrick J Byrne
1From the Department of Physical Therapy, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia (KJN); Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC (KJN); Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (AR); and Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland (PJB).
Abstract:
Facial paralysis is a clinical condition associated with significant functional and psychosocial morbidity (Facial Plast Surg FPS. 2011;27(4):346-57). The management paradigm for this condition continues to evolve with the use of both surgical and nonsurgical strategies (Facial Plast Surg FPS. 2011;27(4):346-57). Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis is a surgical technique whereby the hypoglossal nerve acts as a donor motor nerve to restore facial muscle reinnervation via movements of the tongue (Plast Reconstr Surg. 1979;63(1):63-72). This case describes a 33-yr-old woman with unilateral facial paralysis who underwent hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis and 14 wks of postoperative rehabilitation. This report highlights the details of her rehabilitation regimen including the specific techniques used to enhance motor relearning of facial expression through movement of the tongue.
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