Question
A patient with facial paralysis has been suffering for over four months and wants to understand the extent of the facial nerve damage. According to the EMG results, the left facial nerve (left orbicularis oculi recording) has a slightly shortened latency period and a slightly flattened amplitude; the blink reflex shows a mild shortening of the R1R2 latency on the left side, R2 is normal; on the right side, R1R2 is normal, and R2 is slightly shortened; there is a trace amount of potential visible in the left orbicularis oris, and contraction force is detectable, with abnormal spontaneous potentials seen in the form of a wave pattern. The conclusion is that the left facial nerve has EMG evidence of damage.
Answer
Facial paralysis, or facial nerve injury, primarily manifests on an EMG as shortened latency periods, reduced conduction velocities, and decreased amplitudes. Based on your EMG results, it indicates a mild level of damage. In fact, such a conclusion…