-Original-

Temporalis Muscle-Galea Pedicled Flap for Reconstruction of Longstanding Facial Paralysis

Zhi-Qi Hu^1,2, Rei Ogawa¹, Ritsu Aoki¹, Jian-Hua Gao² and Hiko Hyakusoku¹

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nippon Medical School Hospital
²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, China

Reanimation of longstanding facial paralysis is a difficult clinical problem commonly tackled with the method of pedicled muscle flap transfer. The temporalis muscle has been the most popular. In the past, one common problem was that the flap was not long enough to reach parts of the face distant from the affected area. To overcome this disadvantage, we have devised a flap consisting of the pedicled temporalis muscle, temporal fascia and galea together and have achieved good static results in paralyzed faces.
From June, 1996 to May, 2003, we used this procedure with 38 longstanding facial paralysis patients (16 male and 22 female); 23 had right-sided and 15 had left-sided facial paralysis. The patients were followed-up over three years. Our results were recorded as "Excellent", "Good", "Fair" or "Poor". Excellent or good results were obtained in 33 patients (87%). In these patients, the static results are very good. The oral commissure on the affected side maintained a favorable position and almost complete symmetry of expression was attained.
We have acheived dynamic reconstruction by using a temporalis muscle-galea pedicled flap in 38 longstanding facial paralysis patients. Our results show that this is a good option in treating such patients.

J Nippon Med Sch 2005; 72: 105-112

Keywords
facial paralysis, reanimation, reconstruction, temporalis muscle, galea

Correspondence to
Zhi-Qi Hu, MD, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, 510515 Guangzhou, China
doctorhzq@hotmail.com

Received, August 10, 2004
Accepted, November 30, 2004