Improvement of Speech Function with Free Muscle Transfer to the Bilateral Face in the Patient with Moebius Syndrome

摘要

Facial reanimation by free muscle transfers to the bilateral face with the latissimus dorsi muscle and the thin serratus anterior muscle in two stages was performed in a 36 year-old male with Moebius syndrome. The masseteric nerve was used for a motor nerve to innervate the transferred muscle. Speech function was assessed by a speech therapist before and after surgery. As a result of obtaining the function of closing lips, significant improvement of bilabial sounds (/m/, /p/, /b/) and slight improvement in intelligibility were obtained. It was revealed that bilateral free muscle transfer to the face in the patient with Moebius syndrome not only acquired facial expression of smiling and prevented dribbling food and drooling saliva from the lips, but also contributed to improve speech function.