Muscle Ultrastructural Changes in Long-Standing Idiopathic Total Facial Nerve Palsy

Abstract

Total facial palsy may be idiopathic, iatrogenic, traumatic, or caused by inflammatory, viral, or tumoral diseases. In these cases, the loss of facial movements may be irreversible and the only possible chance for the patients is a surgical procedure. Facial muscle reinnervation procedures may be effective even when performed years after the onset of the paralysis. One of the factors that must be considered in planning this surgery is the capacity of the muscle fibers to regain their contractile action. In the present study, the ultrastructural changes of the denervated muscle (auricularis posterior muscle) in cases of long-standing idiopathic facial nerve paralysis are evaluated.