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Post-operative smile symmetry useful measure of facial palsy rehabilitation

Post-operative smile vertical and horizontal symmetry may be indicators of successful facial palsy rehabilitation.

The researchers aimed to define a reproducible, objective scale for comparing functional results of lengthening temporalis myoplasty with subjective scales. The current retrospective study included 25 patients with unilateral facial palsy who were rehabilitated with lengthening temporalis myoplasty. They evaluated smile horizontal symmetry, vertical symmetry and smile width on the healthy and paretic sides.

A post-operative improvement in the three conditions was reported for comparison of objective measures on the impaired side, according to the results. However, reproducibility of the numeric scale was weak when patients were evaluated at rest (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] < 0.3). Reproducibility was better on evaluation of maximum smile (ICC = 0.57).

No reproducibility was reported for the numeric scale between one observer and another (kappa < 0.3). The researchers also did not observe a correlation between objective and subjective scales at rest and with an intermediate smile. For maximum smile, the researchers observed a correlation between vertical and horizontal smile. They also observed a correlation between professional evaluation with a numeric scale and global patient satisfaction for maximum smile. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.