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An approach to bilateral facial paralysis

Alex C.S. WoollardaCorresponding Author Informationemail address, Douglas H. Harrisonb, Adriaan O. Grobbelaara

Received 4 November 2009; accepted 7 February 2010. published online 08 March 2010.
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Summary 

Möbius syndrome is characterised by a congenital paralysis of the Facial and Abducens nerves. Treatment centres around functional free muscle transfers. We present 20 cases of Möbius reanimation, currently the largest published series. Our preferred approach has evolved over time to be a single stage bilateral procedure using segmental Latissimus dorsi muscles driven by the masseteric branch of the Trigeminal nerve. All cases showed significant improvement when reviewed by the senior surgeon and independent panel of observers. It was the senior authors’ opinion that a more spontaneous smile was achieved in patients under ten years of age.

a The Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW32QG, United Kingdom

b Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2RN, UK

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 7976949897.

PII: S1748-6815(10)00104-X

doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2010.02.018