Orofacial rehabilitation after severe orofacial and neck burn: Experience in a Brazilian burn reference centre.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the benefits of a functional oral rehabilitation program for impairment caused by full thickness orofacial and neck burns, comparing the effects of early and late intervention. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a burn reference center over a two-year period. Patients with full thickness orofacial and neck burns were divided in two groups: Group 1 was composed by 14 patients who began the rehabilitation program 3-12 months after the burn injury; Group 2 was composed by 15 patients who began the rehabilitation program more than 12 months after the burn injury. Treatment was based on current strategies of non-surgical exercises for orofacial contracture management. Outcome measurements included an oral motor clinical evaluation and the assessment of the mandibular range of movement. RESULTS: The functional rehabilitation program was effective in reestablishing the oral motor functions (i.e deficits reduced to approximately 15% when compared to the optimal possible scores) and in restoring horizontal mouth opening dimensions, with more than 70% of the patients presenting measurements within the expected normal limits at the end of treatment. Our results did not indicate differences in performance between the group of patients in neither set of assessments, i.e. pre and post treatment (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that non-invasive orofacial contracture management is effective for patients with orofacial and neck burns, including those with long term sequelae.

Correlation between scar assessment scales and orofacial myofunctional disorders in patients with head and neck burns. / Correlação entre escalas de avaliação da cicatrização e as alterações miofuncionais orofaciais em pacientes com queimaduras de cabeça e pescoço.

PURPOSE: Verify the correlation between two scar assessment scales and the presence of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) in patients with head and neck (H&N) burns. METHODS: Participants of this study were 16 adult individuals with H&N full-thickness burns. Data were collected through assessment of mandibular range of movement and application of the following instruments: Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), Vancouver Scar Scale, and Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES). RESULTS: Results showed moderate negative correlation between the variables deglutition, breathing, total score of the functions, total score on the OMES and scores on the scar assessment scales, indicating that the higher (more severe) the scores on these scales, the lower the scores on the items of the OMES (indicative of greater OMD severity). No correlations were observed between the items of the OMES and the POSAS Patient scale. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that there is correlation between scar severity in burn patients, measured through clinical scales, and presence of OMD. Patients who present scores indicative of H&N pathological scars should be immediately referred to orofacial myofunctional assessment.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a correlação entre duas escalas para avaliação das cicatrizes pós-queimaduras com as alterações miofuncionais orofaciais em pacientes queimados. MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo 16 adultos com sequelas de queimaduras de terceiro grau em cabeça e pescoço. As etapas de coleta de dados envolveram: aplicação das escalas de avaliação da cicatrização Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scales (POSAS) e Vancouver Scar Scale, aplicação da Avaliação Miofuncional Orofacial com Escores Expandidos (AMIOFE-E) e avaliação da mobilidade mandibular. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicaram correlação negativa moderada entre os itens de deglutição, respiração, escore total de funções e escore total na AMIOFE-E e as escalas de cicatriz, indicando que, quanto mais grave a pontuação nessas escalas, menor a pontuação nos itens do AMIOFE-E (indicativo de maior alteração). Não foram observadas correlações entre os itens da avaliação clínica da motricidade orofacial e a escala de gravidade da cicatriz preenchida pelos pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que existe uma correlação entre a gravidade da cicatriz de pacientes queimados, medida por meio de escalas médicas, e as alterações miofuncionais orofaciais. Pacientes que apresentarem pontuação indicativa de cicatrizes patológicas em região de cabeça e pescoço devem ser imediatamente encaminhados para avaliação miofuncional orofacial.

Reabilitação motora orofacial em queimaduras em cabeça e pescoço: uma revisão sistemática de literatura / Orofacial rehabilitation in head and neck burns: a systematic review of the literature

RESUMO Objetivos Investigar estudos sobre o tratamento das queimaduras em cabeça e pescoço, nas diversas áreas da saúde envolvidas na assistência a queimados (médica, enfermagem, fonoaudiologia, fisioterapia e terapia ocupacional), avaliando a eficácia das técnicas empregadas, principalmente no que se refere à reabilitação da funcionalidade da musculatura em cabeça e pescoço. Estratégia de pesquisa Os artigos foram selecionados por meio da base de dados PubMed, utilizando os descritores "burn and face and speech-language pathology", "burn and face and speech language", "burn and face and rehabilitation", "burn and face and myofunctional rehabilitation", "burn and face and myofunctional therapy", "nonsurgical and scar and management", "burn and face and nonsurgical" e "burn and face and scar and management". Critérios de seleção Foram incluídos artigos que investigaram os tratamentos das queimaduras em cabeça e pescoço, associados à reabilitação da funcionalidade da musculatura em cabeça e pescoço, utilizando exercícios musculares e/ou terapias manuais. Resultados A maioria dos tratamentos descritos apresentou efeitos benéficos para pacientes com queimaduras. Foi observada grande variabilidade da metodologia adotada para a aplicação e verificação dos efeitos dos tratamentos. Conclusão Apesar do crescente número de pesquisas, ainda não existe consenso quanto à melhor técnica terapêutica e ao real benefício de cada uma delas. Existe uma grande diversidade nos protocolos de tratamento, sendo que um número pequeno de estudos de tratamento visa a funcionalidade do sistema miofuncional orofacial. A maioria dos estudos tem, como foco, atividades motoras isoladas, que visam à mobilidade mandibular.

ABSTRACT Purpose Analyze studies addressing the treatment of head and neck burns in different fields of health care, especially treatments that involve the functional rehabilitation of the head and neck muscles. Research strategy This qualitative review of the literature analyzed international scientific publications in the PubMed database that used the following keywords: "burn and face and speech-language pathology", "burn and face and speech language", "burn and face and rehabilitation", "burn and face and myofunctional rehabilitation", "burn and face and myofunctional therapy", "nonsurgical and scar and management", "burn and face and nonsurgical", and "burn and face and scar and management". Selection criteria Scientific publications on treatment strategies for head and neck burns associated to functional rehabilitation of the head and neck muscles using muscle exercises and/or manual therapy were included in this study. Results Overall, most of the treatments described in the investigated studies presented positive outcomes for patients with head and neck burns. The studies showed wide variability in terms of treatment proposals and methodologies used to verify treatment efficacy. Conclusion Although a growing number of publications on the rehabilitation of head and neck burns were observed, the best therapeutic technique and its real benefits remain unclear. There is a wide range of treatment protocols, and very few focus on the functional treatment of the orofacial myofunctional system. Most of the studies propose isolated motor activities to improve the mandibular range of movements.

Peripheral facial palsy: muscle activity in different onset times.

PURPOSE: To assess, through surface electromyography (sEMG), the activity of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles, during the production of voluntary smiles and to compare these data between two groups of individuals with different onset times of peripheral facial palsy (PFP). METHODS: A total of 140 adults were divided into three groups: G1 (35 individuals with PFP onset time between 0 and 3 months); G2 (35 individuals with PFP onset time between 3 and 6 months); CG (control group) (70 healthy controls). All of the participants were submitted to the following assessments: clinical protocol for the assessment of facial mimic and sEMG of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles. RESULTS: The results suggest that the groups of individuals with PFP differed from the control group considering muscle activity during rest and during the production of voluntary smiles, regardless of the onset time of the disease. The groups with PFP did not differ between themselves in any of the tested situations. The group with PFP with longer onset time presented greater muscle activation asymmetry during the production of the voluntary smiles when compared to the other two groups. Muscle asymmetry was more evident when considering the results for the risorius muscle. CONCLUSION: The results of the sEMG do not distinguish the groups when considering PFP onset times.

Paralisia facial periférica: atividade muscular em diferentes momentos da doença / Peripheral facial palsy: muscle activity in different onset times

RESUMO Objetivo : Avaliar, por meio da eletromiografia de superfície (EMGs), a atividade dos músculos risório e zigomático, durante a produção do sorriso voluntário, comparando os dados em dois grupos de indivíduos com tempos diferentes de início da paralisia facial periférica (PFP). Métodos : 140 adultos distribuídos em três grupos: G1 (35 indivíduos com início da PFP entre 0 e 3 meses); G2 (35 indivíduos com início da PFP entre 3 e 6 meses); GC (70 controles saudáveis). Todos os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação que consistiu na aplicação de uma escala clínica para avaliação da mímica facial e na realização da EMGs em região de músculos risório e zigomático. Resultados: Os resultados indicaram que os grupos com paralisia facial, independentemente do tempo de início da doença, se diferenciaram significativamente do grupo de indivíduos saudáveis quanto à atividade muscular captada durante o repouso e no sorriso voluntário para ambas as regiões musculares testadas. Os grupos com paralisia facial não se diferenciaram significativamente quando considerada a ativação muscular para nenhuma das avaliações realizadas. O grupo com maior tempo de paralisia facial apresentou ativação muscular mais assimétrica durante o sorriso voluntário quando comparado aos demais grupos. A assimetria muscular foi mais evidente considerando o funcionamento do músculo risório. Conclusão: Os resultados da EMGs não evidenciaram diferenças entre os grupos de acordo com o tempo de início da doença.

ABSTRACT Purpose : To assess, through surface electromyography (sEMG), the activity of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles, during the production of voluntary smiles and to compare these data between two groups of individuals with different onset times of peripheral facial palsy (PFP). Methods : A total of 140 adults were divided into three groups: G1 (35 individuals with PFP onset time between 0 and 3 months); G2 (35 individuals with PFP onset time between 3 and 6 months); CG (control group) (70 healthy controls). All of the participants were submitted to the following assessments: clinical protocol for the assessment of facial mimic and sEMG of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles. Results: The results suggest that the groups of individuals with PFP differed from the control group considering muscle activity during rest and during the production of voluntary smiles, regardless of the onset time of the disease. The groups with PFP did not differ between themselves in any of the tested situations. The group with PFP with longer onset time presented greater muscle activation asymmetry during the production of the voluntary smiles when compared to the other two groups. Muscle asymmetry was more evident when considering the results for the risorius muscle. Conclusion : The results of the sEMG do not distinguish the groups when considering PFP onset times.

Evaluation of oral-motor movements and facial mimic in patients with head and neck burns by a public service in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of oral-motor movements and facial mimic in patients with head and neck burns. METHODS: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with patients who suffered burns to the head and neck and who were referred to the Division of Orofacial Myology of a public hospital for assessment and rehabilitation. Only patients presenting deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burns to areas of the face and neck were included in the study. Patients underwent clinical assessment that involved an oral-motor evaluation, mandibular range of movement assessment, and facial mimic assessment. Patients were divided into two groups: G1 - patients with deep partial-thickness burns; G2 - patients with full-thickness burns. RESULTS: Our final study sample comprised 40 patients: G1 with 19 individuals and G2 with 21 individuals. The overall scores obtained in the clinical assessment of oral-motor organs indicated that patients with both second- and third-degree burns presented deficits related to posture, position and mobility of the oral-motor organs. Considering facial mimic, groups significantly differed when performing voluntary facial movements. Patients also presented limited maximal incisor opening. Deficits were greater for individuals in G2 in all assessments. CONCLUSION: Patients with head and neck burns present significant deficits related to posture, position and mobility of the oral myofunctional structures, including facial movements.

Evaluation of oral-motor movements and facial mimic in patients with head and neck burns by a public service in Brazil

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of oral-motor movements and facial mimic in patients with head and neck burns. METHODS: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with patients who suffered burns to the head and neck and who were referred to the Division of Orofacial Myology of a public hospital for assessment and rehabilitation. Only patients presenting deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burns to areas of the face and neck were included in the study. Patients underwent clinical assessment that involved an oral-motor evaluation, mandibular range of movement assessment, and facial mimic assessment. Patients were divided into two groups: G1 - patients with deep partial-thickness burns; G2 - patients with full-thickness burns. RESULTS: Our final study sample comprised 40 patients: G1 with 19 individuals and G2 with 21 individuals. The overall scores obtained in the clinical assessment of oral-motor organs indicated that patients with both second- and third-degree burns presented deficits related to posture, position and mobility of the oral-motor organs. Considering facial mimic, groups significantly differed when performing voluntary facial movements. Patients also presented limited maximal incisor opening. Deficits were greater for individuals in G2 in all assessments. CONCLUSION: Patients with head and neck burns present significant deficits related to posture, position and mobility of the oral myofunctional structures, including facial movements. .