Pediatric Facial Reanimation

Stephen P Hadford; Dane J Genther; Patrick J Byrne

doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2023.07.003

Pediatric Facial Reanimation

Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Feb;32(1):169-180. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2023.07.003. Epub 2023 Aug 21.

Authors

Stephen P Hadford¹, Dane J Genther², Patrick J Byrne³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Section of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
³ Section of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Chair, Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Chief, Cleveland Clinic Integrated Surgical Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Electronic address: byrnep@ccf.org.

PMID: 37981412
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsc.2023.07.003

Abstract

Pediatric facial palsy is rare but severely debilitating and results in profound functional, developmental, psychosocial, and esthetic consequences. Identifying the specific cause of the palsy is important in directing the treatment course. The most common etiologies of pediatric facial palsy are distinct from those of adults. Facial reanimation interventions are targeted to address the zones of the face, with oral/smile rehabilitation the most common region requiring intervention in pediatric patients. Gracilis microneurovascular free tissue transfer is safe and highly effective in the pediatric population, providing significant functional, psychosocial, and esthetic benefits.

Keywords: Congenital facial paralysis; Cross face nerve graft; Facial nerve; Facial paralysis; Facial reanimation; Gracilis free flap; Pediatric facial palsy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Child
Esthetics
Facial Paralysis* / etiology
Facial Paralysis* / surgery
Humans