Telemedical training to reduce synkinesia in patients with chronic facial palsy

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for telemedical care exponentially. This is why the Facial Nerve Center Jena also uses telemedicine to be able to treat our patients diagnostically and therapeutically despite strict hygiene regulations.

Material / methods Up until 2019, initial diagnostic presentations were almost always carried out in person at the university outpatient clinic. If a chronic facial nerve palsy with motor deficits and synkinesia was found, intensive 10-day EMG and video biofeedback training was often started. Both services of the Facial Nerve Center Jena are now also offered telemedically, using video software with end-to-end encryption. The patient related outcome measure “Facial Disability Index” (FDI) is used to quantify the severity of the facial palsy.

Results With the help of the video and the anamnesis, we were able to provide our patients effective advice and therapy recommendations in all cases. Unstable internet connections were the biggest problem. After a short training period, however, it was always possible to carry out regular training, usually once a week. The average FDI improved from 54.6 to 68.8 within 10 sessions of 45 minutes each.

Conclusion The diagnostic and therapeutic core elements of the Facial Nerve Center Jena can be implemented well telemedically. In many patients, telemedicine training succeeded in reducing motor deficits and synkinesia and at the same time avoiding travel and accommodation costs.

Poster-PDF A-1281.pdf

Innovation Norway 2020/516892

Conflict of interest

The first author points out the following conflict of interest: Innovation Norway 2020/516892

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021