The use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of peripheral facial palsy

• Autor(a) principal: Andalécio, Mariana Martins
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Andrade, Rodrigo Soares de, Lima, Luisa Carolina Santos, Carvalho, Thiago de Amorim, Silva, Ivania Aparecida Pimenta Santos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/17935
• topic: Parálisis Facial; Simetria; Toxina botulínica; Assimetria.; Facial Palsy; Botulinum Toxin; Symmetry; Asymmetry.; Paralisia Facial; Toxina Botulínica; Simetria; Assimetria.

Peripheral Facial Palsy (PFP) is a state of paralysis or weakening of the facial muscles that causes motor and aesthetic limitations to the patient with this condition. One means of treatment for PFP that is gaining prominence is the use of botulinum toxin on the side contralateral to that affected by the condition. This toxin is collected from the spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and its action inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, reducing muscle hyperfunction and restoring symmetry to the patient's face. Therefore, this study aims to achieve the knowledge of the best protocol for the application of the toxin in paralysis, as well as which serotype to use and the ability to improve the patient's quality of life. The study consists of a basic, qualitative, descriptive-exploratory integrative review based on the main research platforms searching for the terms facial paralysis and botulinum toxin. Articles were included from 2011 to 2021 in the English language and the search resulted in 17 articles. In all reviewed articles the botulinum toxin serotype A was the only one used for the treatment, the amount of biological units (BIU) and the protocol was individualized for each patient exempting from a standard. The quality of life of the patients was restored after an improvement in facial symmetry was obtained and, with this, an increase in self-esteem, besides, mainly, restoring the ability to perform coordinated muscular actions. Therefore, it can be concluded that the treatment of PFP with botulinum toxin is highly beneficial to patients.