[Satisfaction survey of patients with sequels of peripheral facial palsy treated with botulinum toxin A].

[INTRODUCTION] Treatment of peripheral facial palsy with botulinum toxin A is safe and effective. Although its beneficial impact on patients' quality of life is known, to date, there have been no studies specifically analysing patients' subjective perceptions.

[PATIENTS AND METHOD] We performed a prospective study in a random sample of patients with sequels of peripheral facial palsy treated with botulinum toxin in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of our hospital. We created a simple questionnaire to assess both patient satisfaction and subjective perception of improvement after botulinum toxin treatment.

[RESULTS] After infiltration, 95% of the patients felt good or very good. More than 80% noted improvement in the sensation of tightness in the cheek and neck. Around 75% of patients perceived an improvement in the range of voluntary movement and approximately 80% reported improvement in synkinesis. Almost all the patients would repeat the treatment, if proposed, and 100% would recommend botulinum toxin infiltration to other patients with facial palsy.

[CONCLUSIONS] Patients treated with botulinum toxin experience substantial subjective improvement in the sequels of peripheral facial palsy, both in repose and in the control of synkinesis. Satisfaction was higher than 8/10 in 99% of patients in this study.