The neurophysiology aspect of congenital craniofacial deformities in children

Abstract

Congenital craniofacial deformities in children are conditions with varying degrees of severity between minor and severe, they can be present at birth, but they can also be detected during the child's development. Material and methods. In the period 2014-2021, 57 children (29 boys and 28 girls), average age 9,1 ± 2,4 months, with craniofacial deformities from different medical centers in the Republic of Moldova were examined polysystemically. In this sense, we evaluated the state of the masseter, temporal and tongue muscles by electromyography with surface electrodes to determine the quality of their muscle activity. Recordings of the bioelectrical activity of muscle activity during exercise were performed using a Nihon Kohden portable electromyograph (Japan). Results. The balance dysfunction of the neuromuscular system in these children, as a neuro-physiological sign of pathological muscular weakness in the sucking reflex activity, is highlighted in 87.7% of cases by a marked asymmetry (p<0.001) of the tongue and masseter muscles activity and, respectively less highlighted (p<0.05) of the anterior temporal. Discussion. Thus, the EMG pattern evaluation highlights a decrease in the average amplitude of the action potentials (mV) mainly for the tongue, mm. masseters and temporalis on the left side, associated with an increase in the potential (ms) average duration from both the affected and the contralateral muscles, thus reflecting the reduction in their contraction capacity and the quality decrease in the act of sucking and mastication, predominantly on the left, in the child with congenital craniofacial deformities and disorders of the sucking reflex in infants. Conclusions. The neurophysiological examination highlights various forms of muscle function abnormalities in children with craniofacial deformities, which require multifunctional and multidisciplinary recovery.