Facial Nerve Palsy: Advances in Electrophysiological Diagnostics, Surgical Reanimation, Rehabilitation and Regeneration
A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 32
Special Issue Editors
Interests: facial nerve palsy; reconstructive surgery; maxillectomy
Interests: vestibular schwannoma; skull-base surgery; otology; neurotology; salivary gland tumors; temporal bone carcinomas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Facial nerve palsy represents a complex and multifaceted condition with profound implications for patients’ quality of life, affecting not only facial expression and communication but also psychological well-being and social interaction. The causes are diverse, ranging from idiopathic paralysis (Bell’s palsy) to traumatic, infectious, oncological, or iatrogenic etiologies. In addition, facial nerve dysfunction is frequently associated with incomplete recovery, aberrant regeneration, and long-term sequelae such as synkinesis, which make optimal management a challenging clinical task.
Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of facial nerve palsy. Advances in electrophysiological diagnostics (e.g., electromyography, electroneurography, evoked potentials) have improved clinicians’ ability to assess nerve damage, monitor regeneration, and stratify prognosis. Parallel innovations in surgical reanimation techniques—including nerve grafts, nerve transfers, and free muscle flaps—offer increasingly sophisticated approaches to restore facial function. Beyond surgery, rehabilitation strategies, including physiotherapy, neuromuscular retraining, and speech therapy, play a crucial role in optimizing outcomes. Finally, emerging research into nerve regeneration and neuroplasticity provides promising perspectives for the development of novel therapies.
The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather high-quality contributions that advance knowledge and practice in the field of facial nerve palsy. We welcome original research and systematic reviews addressing one or more of the following domains:
- Electrophysiological evaluation and novel diagnostic tools;
- Advances in surgical reanimation and reconstructive approaches;
- Rehabilitation strategies and multidisciplinary management;
- Neuroregeneration and experimental therapies;
- Patient-centered outcomes and quality-of-life perspectives.
By integrating expertise from otolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, neurology, and rehabilitation sciences, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in facial nerve palsy management and to stimulate further innovation in the field.
Dr. Bernardo Bianchi
Dr. Elisabetta Zanoletti
Guest Editors
Dr. Antonio Daloiso
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- facial nerve palsy
- electrophysiological diagnostics
- surgical reanimation
- facial nerve rehabilitation
- nerve regeneration
- facial reanimation surgery
- electromyography
- synkinesis
- quality of life
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