[Satisfaction survey of patients with sequels of peripheral facial palsy treated with botulinum toxin A].

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of peripheral facial palsy with botulinum toxin A is safe and effective. Although its beneficial impact on patients' quality of life is known, to date, there have been no studies specifically analysing patients' subjective perceptions.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a prospective study in a random sample of patients with sequels of peripheral facial palsy treated with botulinum toxin in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of our hospital. We created a simple questionnaire to assess both patient satisfaction and subjective perception of improvement after botulinum toxin treatment.

RESULTS

After infiltration, 95% of the patients felt good or very good. More than 80% noted improvement in the sensation of tightness in the cheek and neck. Around 75% of patients perceived an improvement in the range of voluntary movement and approximately 80% reported improvement in synkinesis. Almost all the patients would repeat the treatment, if proposed, and 100% would recommend botulinum toxin infiltration to other patients with facial palsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with botulinum toxin experience substantial subjective improvement in the sequels of peripheral facial palsy, both in repose and in the control of synkinesis. Satisfaction was higher than 8/10 in 99% of patients in this study.