Comprehensive Management of Facial Paralysis: Perspectives from a Neurotologist, Facial Plastic Surgeon, and Physical Therapist
09-10, 08:40–09:10 (Europe/Istanbul), Facial Plastic 2

<p>Introduction: Facial paralysis negatively impacts patients’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. Optimal care requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists in neurotology, facial plastic surgery, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, physical therapy, ophthalmology, and neurology.</p> <p>However, standardized collaborative pathways remain underdeveloped and underutilized. This study evaluates the outcomes of an algorithm used at our facial paralysis program.</p> <p>Material & Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with facial palsy since March, 2023 until now. The group included both pediatric and adult patients.</p> <p>Results: Fifty-three patients have been seen by our clinicians. Etiology of palsy included temporal bone fractures and other types of trauma, post-surgical, viral (e.g,, Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome), tumors (benign and malignant). Patients underwent facial nerve decompression and grafting as well as chemodenervation, selective myectomy, selective neurectomy, static and dynamic slings, facial nerve transfers, and muscle transfers (both pedicled and free flaps). All patients also underwent physiotherapy. A physical therapy evaluation form was created. Data collection has been initiated utilizing multiple outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness of treatment. The current evaluation utilizes the House-Brackmann and Sunnybrook Grading Scales, the Facial Disability Index, the Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire and the CORE 10. These measures look at both the physical and mental health impairments associated with facial nerve palsy.</p> <p>Conclusions: A structured multidisciplinary model for facial paralysis management enhances functional recovery, aesthetic outcomes, and patient quality of life. Early referral and coordinated interdisciplinary care are critical determinants of success.</p>
<p>Presentation of the results of our multidisciplinary team treating patients with facial paralysis. A facial plastic surgeon, Neurotologist, and dedicated face physical therapist combine their expertise to optimize facial reanimation after trauma, cancer, or post-viral paralysis. From neurotoxin treatments to selective neurectomy/myectomy, and gracilis free flap surgery, our team built a collaborative effort to best impact our patients’ outcomes.</p>
Session Chair Session Chair
Ender İnci
Speaker Speaker
Isabelle Gengler
Isabelle Gengler
<p>Dr Isabelle Gengler is an American and French facial plastics and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty, facial nerve reanimation surgery, reconstructive microsurgery, and cosmetic surgery of the face. She completed medical school and Otolaryngology-HNS residency in France, then moved to the United-States where she completed a second Otolaryngology residency, followed by a fellowship in Facial Plastics and Reconstructive surgery of the face at the Johns Hopkins hospital in 2025. She is now an attending physician at the Thomas Jefferson University/Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, where she is establishing a reconstructive center dedicated to facial nerve and reconstructive surgery. She performs both cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, in adults and children. She also serves as the Vice Chair of Research for the YO-IFOS group since 2023.</p>
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Ender İnci
<p>Prof. Dr. Ender İNCİ was born in 1968 in Gümüşhane-Kelkit. He completed his primary, secondary and high school education in Kelkit - München-İzmit. He graduated from I.U. Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1992 and started his specialization in Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases at I.U. Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in the same year. He completed his specialization in 1996 with his thesis titled "Evaluation of the relationship between chronic otitis media and nasal obstruction by rhinomanometry method". He did his military service in 1998-1999 at Ağrı Military Hospital. He received the title of Associate Professor in 2005 and the title of Professor in 2011. He has focused his studies on facial plastic surgery, especially rhinoplasty.</p>
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