[Contralateral reinnervation in peripheral facial paralysis]. / Kontralaterale Reinnervation bei peripherer Fazialisparalyse.

Neurological and EMG studies were performed on 17 patients with peripheral facial palsy in order to investigate the possibility of reinnervation of the palsied mimic muscles close to the middle facial line by outgrown fibres from the contralateral intact facial nerve. The patients were aged between 10 and 77 years (middle age 38 years) with duration of the facial palsy from 2 month to 30 years. In eight patients there were data about double reinnervation - both by the ipsilateral lesioned nerve and by the contralateral intact facial nerve. In contrast to the statement of other authors that the age of the patients and the duration of the disease, its severity or the way of occurrence of facial palsy--acute or chronic, are of importance to the development of contralateral reinnervation, our data do not suggest such a role for these factors.

[Facial Expression and gestures in the murals of the church in Bojana]. / Mienenspiel und Gesten als Ausdruckerscheinungen in den Wandmalereien der Kirche in Bojana.

The study is an attempt to analyse mimicry and gestures in six of the portraits of Christ and in another four figures of laymen in the mural paintings of the church in Bojana which were created by an unknown artist called Master of Bojana in 1259. Besides his excellent performances as an innovator in this art, we are also surprised by his talent to express the various mental conditions and interrelations of the individual figures by the play of their features and their gestures. The portraits of laymen completely convey the mental characteristics of these people while the figures of Christ may be considered as examples of high human values and virtues. This characteristic feature of the works of the Master of Bojana makes his artistic creation stand out in a more plastic and qualitative manner, permits a deeper insight into his master works and explains their irresistible effect on the viewers.

Blink reflex in facial-hypoglossal anastomosis.

The blink reflex was investigated in two patients after a facial-hypoglossal anastomosis had been performed. In each case the first component of the blink reflex could be demonstrated with normal latency on the operated side after ipsilateral supraorbital stimulation. These findings give further evidence that the first component of the blink reflex is not monosynaptic in nature. The second component of the blink reflex was distinctly retarded in the first case and was not seen at all in the second case. The second component of the blink reflex is influenced strongly by alteration of the intrabulbar and efferent part of the reflex circuits; it shows some correlation with voluntary motor activity.

[A Bell"s palsy of long standing, and its rehabilitation. An electromyographic documentation. (author's transl)]. / Uber die Rehabilitation einer langdauernden Fazialislähmung. Eine elektromyographische Dokumentation.

We examined a 31 year-old female patient who, since her first year of life and following a parotis operation, had suffered from left-sided Bell's palsy. The electromyographical examinations disclosed a complete loss of voluntary muscle control and of the trigemino-facial reflexes, although the direct responses of the facial nerve could be demonstrated with delayed latences. The findings indicated peripheral regeneration of the facial nerve with absence of central programming and reflex pathways. By means of rhythmic muscle stimulation, voluntary control and reflex excitability was re-established, to a limited extent, on the formerly inactive side within a short space of time.

Contralateral reinnervation in Bell's palsy. A case report.

Congenital lesion of the left facial nerve trunk has been investigated in a 30-year-old woman. Upon stimulation of the left facial nerve, no response was evoked in any of the mimic muscles. The patient was able to perform voluntary contractions of the left corrugator glabellae muscle and of the left corner of the orbicular oral muscle; these contractions were recorded electromyographically. The stimulation of the right facial nerve elicited responses in the referred left mimic muscles. This circumstance indicated their activity to be due to contralateral reinnervation by the intact facial nerve. The blink reflex examination evoked no response on the left side, while the blinik reflex on the right side was elicited with both its components, both upon ipsi- and contralateral stimulation.