A new technique that goes back to the face of paraplegic

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A team of US researchers has developed a new technique to treat hemorrhagic facial diseases using an electronic device implanted in the face to restore the movement of the paralyzed part.

The first tests conducted by Harvard School of Medicine researchers, Nate Goet, on mice revealed promising results to restore the mobility of half of the paralyzed face by directing electrical signals from the right half to the injured half, helping thus to move the muscles of the face. .

The researcher stated that paralysis of the half of the face was a "devastating" disease of the patient, causing functional and aesthetic problems, and affected the process of communication between the patient and the community, while facial reconstruction surgery by transfer Some nerves may also help restore some forms of movement on the face, but these methods pose some problems. For example, it gives the patient the opportunity to smile again, but it does require some mental effort.

During the experiment, researchers installed electrical electrodes with special features around the facial nerve in diseased mice, and electrical signals were transmitted through these electrodes to control the movement of the eye and mustaches.
Although the results of the first experiments of this technique are promising, the researchers emphasize that there is still much to be done before this technique can be applied to humans.

The study team plans to continue research to create smaller and permanently implanted devices in the face to overcome the problem of facial paralysis.