Botulinum Toxin Injection Effective for Post-Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy Synkinesis
Samih Badarny, Nir Giladi, Silvia Honigman
Dept. of Neurology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa; and Movement Disorders Unit, Dept. of Neurology, Tel Aviv Medical Center
Facial synkinesis is an involuntary activation of muscles innervated by the zygomatic or mandibular branche of the facial nerve in conjunction with voluntary activation of the other branch. It appears frequently after recovery from peripheral facial nerve paralysis. We report 10 patients with facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy with a mean duration of synkinesis of 7±4 years before treatment with periorbital injections of Botulinum toxin type A. 9 had marked subjective and objective improvement starting a few days after injection andlasting 4-9 months. The results suggest a useful treatment option for post-Bell's palsy facsynkinesis with Botulinum toxin type A.