[The functional asymmetry of the facial neuromotor apparatus in patients with facial nerve neuropathy and its treatment with botulinum toxin type A lantox].

A clinical and electrophysiological (EMG, ENMG, the blink reflex) examination has been carried out in 85 patients with facial nerve lesions of different etiology. A control group included 25 healthy people. Two schemes of botulinum toxin type A (lantox) injections into hyperactive facial muscles have been elaborated. The second examination has been conducted 14 days after injections. The compensatory tug of paretic muscles accompanied by the hypertonic activity of facial muscles of an intact side has been observed in patients with facial nerve neuropathy. The results of the study have been analyzed in 64 patients stratified into two subgroups: 29 patients with prosopoplegia and 35 patients with late complications. After the treatment, the tone of facial muscles has decreased thus promoting the balance between facial muscles on both sides of the face, decrease in facial asymmetry, increase of the functional muscle interaction between both sides, reduction of pathological synkinetic activity. The authors emphasize that the use of botulinum toxin type A both in the early and recovery stages allows to obtain high functional and esthetic results.