Mwj. Armstrong et al., TREATMENT OF FACIAL SYNKINESIS AND FACIAL ASYMMETRY WITH BOTULINUM TOXIN TYPE-A FOLLOWING FACIAL-NERVE PALSY, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 21(1), 1996, pp. 15-20
Facial synkinesis and asymmetry commonly impair the outcome of facial
nerve palsy. Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin which prevents ace
tylcholine release at the neuromuscular endplate, paralysing skeletal
muscle. This paper examines its use in 24 patients with synkinesis and
asymmetry affecting the eye and mouth. Sixty-eight of 72 treatments p
roduced improved cosmesis. Dose-related complications occurred in 26 t
reatments but were generally mild and transient. The total dosages of
toxin used were analysed. The higher dose group compared with the lowe
r dose group had no significant advantage in overall cosmetic improvem
ent but the complication rate was significantly higher in the higher d
ose group (20/39) compared with the lower dose group (6/33) (chi(2) 6.
675, P > 0.05).