Otto R A
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-6200, USA.
Laryngoscope. 1997 Jan;107(1):101-11. doi: 10.1097/00005537-199701000-00020.
Restoration of the ability to blink and protect the eye in the patient with facial paralysis remains a challenge. Although many treatments exist, no one approach corrects all the deficits associated with the loss of orbicularis oculi function. In this study, the author investigated the feasibility of restoring function by direct electrical stimulation of the paralyzed orbicularis oculi muscle in the rabbit model. Using a pacing device developed by the author, functional restoration of a normal-appearing blink was produced throughout 30 days of continuous pacing in six rabbits with transected facial nerves. Histologic evaluations of the paced tissues demonstrated no evidence of detrimental effects attributable to the electrical stimulation. The findings of this study support the feasibility of employing direct electrical stimulation to restore the function of paralyzed orbicularis oculi muscles. Potential applications may also exist in other areas in which peripheral denervation creates functional impairment.
恢复面瘫患者眨眼和保护眼睛的能力仍然是一项挑战。尽管有许多治疗方法，但没有一种方法能纠正与眼轮匝肌功能丧失相关的所有缺陷。在本研究中，作者在兔模型中研究了通过直接电刺激瘫痪的眼轮匝肌来恢复功能的可行性。使用作者开发的起搏装置，在六只面神经横断的兔子中进行了30天的连续起搏，产生了外观正常的眨眼功能恢复。对起搏组织的组织学评估表明，没有证据显示电刺激会产生有害影响。本研究结果支持采用直接电刺激来恢复瘫痪眼轮匝肌功能的可行性。在周围神经去神经支配导致功能障碍的其他领域也可能存在潜在应用。
