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Ultrasound-guided Botulinum Toxin-A Injections: A Method of Treating Sialorrhea
Published on: November 9, 2016
Botulinum Toxin Type A Timing Efficacy in Patients With Synkinesis After Bell's Palsy
Abdurrahman Al-Awady1, Vivek Annadata1, Ryan Sicard1
1Divison of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Objective:
This study examines whether the timing of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) treatments affects outcomes in patients with synkinesis, a sequela of Bell's Palsy characterized by disconjugate facial muscle movement.
Study Design:
A retrospective chart review.
Setting:
An urban academic medical center.
Methods:
We reviewed the charts of synkinesis patients treated from 2016 to 2022. Data included procedural notes, intervention dates, and scores from the House-Brackmann (HB), Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE), Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), and Facial Grading System (FGS).
Results:
Sixty-seven patients (median age 54 years, average palsy duration 5.7 years) received BoNTA. Patients treated within 12 months (n = 28), 13 to 24 months (n = 12), and after 24 months (n = 23) showed no significant differences in changes to HB, FaCE, or SAQ scores. However, patients treated within 1 year had significantly higher FGS improvement (36.3) than the other groups (P = .03).
Conclusion:
While FaCE, HB, and SAQ scores showed no significant differences, early BoNTA treatment within 1 year significantly improved FGS scores, indicating better outcomes. Therefore, early treatment is ideal for optimal response.
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