A Study on the Correlation between Surface Electromyography and Assessment Scale for Facial Palsy

Abstract

Objjectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between surface electromyography(SEMG) and assessment scales for facial palsy. Methods : The subjects for this study were 21 patients who had peripheral facial nerve palsy. We analyzed about the correlation between the results of SEMG and facial nerve assessment scales that were carried out at the same time. The assessment scales used in this study were House-Brackmann scale, Yanagihara grading system, Sunnybrook facial grading system. Results : There are considerable correlation between the results of SEMG and the results of three kinds of assessment scales for facial nerve palsy. Conclusions : SEMG may be an objective examination for facial nerve palsy. Some research aimed at development of SEMG examination guideline for facial nerve palsy will be needed after this. And we expect that many researches for development of diagnostic equipments or treatment equipments that utilize SEMG will proceed.