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Synkinesis

MedGen UID:
68594
•Concept ID:
C0234362
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonym: Synkineses
SNOMED CT: Synkinesis (54685005); Synkinesia (54685005)
 
HPO: HP:0034980

Definition

Unintentional movement in one area of the body produced during intentional movement of another area of the body. [from HPO]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Clinical application of physical therapy in facial paralysis treatment: A review.
DeBord K, Ding P, Harrington M, Duggal R, Genther DJ, Ciolek PJ, Byrne PJ
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2023 Dec;87:217-223. Epub 2023 Oct 13 doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.10.076. PMID: 37918298
Facial Rehabilitation: Evaluation and Treatment Strategies for the Patient with Facial Palsy.
Robinson MW, Baiungo J
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2018 Dec;51(6):1151-1167. Epub 2018 Sep 24 doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.07.011. PMID: 30262166
Botulinum toxin treatment for facial palsy: A systematic review.
Cooper L, Lui M, Nduka C
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2017 Jun;70(6):833-841. Epub 2017 Feb 16 doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2017.01.009. PMID: 28389084

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Revision Rhytidectomy: Pearls and Pitfalls.
Ziai K, Azizzadeh B
Facial Plast Surg 2025 Feb;41(1):82-90. Epub 2023 Oct 12 doi: 10.1055/a-2190-8558. PMID: 37827505
Physical therapy for peripheral facial palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nakano H, Fujiwara T, Tsujimoto Y, Morishima N, Kasahara T, Ameya M, Tachibana K, Sanada S, Toufukuji S, Hato N
Auris Nasus Larynx 2024 Feb;51(1):154-160. Epub 2023 May 4 doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2023.04.007. PMID: 37149416
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Gagyor I, Madhok VB, Daly F, Sullivan F
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Sep 5;9(9):CD001869. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001869.pub9. PMID: 31486071Free PMC Article
Management of Long-Standing Flaccid Facial Palsy: Periocular Considerations.
Homer N, Fay A
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2018 Dec;51(6):1107-1118. Epub 2018 Aug 28 doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.07.007. PMID: 30170698
Physical therapy for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Teixeira LJ, Valbuza JS, Prado GF
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD006283. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006283.pub3. PMID: 22161401

Diagnosis

Bell Palsy: Rapid Evidence Review.
Dalrymple SN, Row JH, Gazewood J
Am Fam Physician 2023 Apr;107(4):415-420. PMID: 37054419
Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy: Recent Guidelines and a Systematic Review of the Literature.
Kim SJ, Lee HY
J Korean Med Sci 2020 Aug 3;35(30):e245. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e245. PMID: 32743989Free PMC Article
Facial spasms.
Blitzer AL, Phelps PO
Dis Mon 2020 Oct;66(10):101041. Epub 2020 Jul 1 doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101041. PMID: 32622683
Facial Nerve Rehabilitation.
Ishii LE
Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2016 Nov;24(4):573-575. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2016.06.010. PMID: 27712822
Bell's Palsy.
Vakharia K, Vakharia K
Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2016 Feb;24(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2015.08.001. PMID: 26611696

Therapy

Revision Rhytidectomy: Pearls and Pitfalls.
Ziai K, Azizzadeh B
Facial Plast Surg 2025 Feb;41(1):82-90. Epub 2023 Oct 12 doi: 10.1055/a-2190-8558. PMID: 37827505
Bell Palsy: Rapid Evidence Review.
Dalrymple SN, Row JH, Gazewood J
Am Fam Physician 2023 Apr;107(4):415-420. PMID: 37054419
Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy: Recent Guidelines and a Systematic Review of the Literature.
Kim SJ, Lee HY
J Korean Med Sci 2020 Aug 3;35(30):e245. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e245. PMID: 32743989Free PMC Article
Facial spasms.
Blitzer AL, Phelps PO
Dis Mon 2020 Oct;66(10):101041. Epub 2020 Jul 1 doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101041. PMID: 32622683
Physical therapy for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Teixeira LJ, Valbuza JS, Prado GF
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD006283. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006283.pub3. PMID: 22161401

Prognosis

Bell Palsy: Rapid Evidence Review.
Dalrymple SN, Row JH, Gazewood J
Am Fam Physician 2023 Apr;107(4):415-420. PMID: 37054419
Facial nerve management in patients with malignant skull base tumors.
Christopher LH, Slattery WH, Smith EJ, Larian B, Azizzadeh B
J Neurooncol 2020 Dec;150(3):493-500. Epub 2020 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s11060-020-03635-0. PMID: 33113067
Normal and abnormal spontaneous activity.
Rubin DI
Handb Clin Neurol 2019;160:257-279. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00017-5. PMID: 31277853
Bell's Palsy.
Vakharia K, Vakharia K
Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2016 Feb;24(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2015.08.001. PMID: 26611696
Contemporary management of Bell palsy.
Jowett N, Hadlock TA
Facial Plast Surg 2015 Apr;31(2):93-102. Epub 2015 May 8 doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1549040. PMID: 25958893

Clinical prediction guides

Physical therapy for peripheral facial palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nakano H, Fujiwara T, Tsujimoto Y, Morishima N, Kasahara T, Ameya M, Tachibana K, Sanada S, Toufukuji S, Hato N
Auris Nasus Larynx 2024 Feb;51(1):154-160. Epub 2023 May 4 doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2023.04.007. PMID: 37149416
Botulinum toxin A treatment in facial palsy synkinesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
de Jongh FW, Schaeffers AWMA, Kooreman ZE, Ingels KJAO, van Heerbeek N, Beurskens C, Monstrey SJ, Pouwels S
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023 Apr;280(4):1581-1592. Epub 2022 Dec 22 doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07796-8. PMID: 36544062
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Gagyor I, Madhok VB, Daly F, Sullivan F
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Sep 5;9(9):CD001869. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001869.pub9. PMID: 31486071Free PMC Article
Botulinum toxin treatment for facial palsy: A systematic review.
Cooper L, Lui M, Nduka C
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2017 Jun;70(6):833-841. Epub 2017 Feb 16 doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2017.01.009. PMID: 28389084
Physical therapy for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Teixeira LJ, Valbuza JS, Prado GF
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD006283. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006283.pub3. PMID: 22161401

Recent systematic reviews

Physical therapy for peripheral facial palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nakano H, Fujiwara T, Tsujimoto Y, Morishima N, Kasahara T, Ameya M, Tachibana K, Sanada S, Toufukuji S, Hato N
Auris Nasus Larynx 2024 Feb;51(1):154-160. Epub 2023 May 4 doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2023.04.007. PMID: 37149416
Botulinum toxin A treatment in facial palsy synkinesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
de Jongh FW, Schaeffers AWMA, Kooreman ZE, Ingels KJAO, van Heerbeek N, Beurskens C, Monstrey SJ, Pouwels S
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023 Apr;280(4):1581-1592. Epub 2022 Dec 22 doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07796-8. PMID: 36544062
Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy: Recent Guidelines and a Systematic Review of the Literature.
Kim SJ, Lee HY
J Korean Med Sci 2020 Aug 3;35(30):e245. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e245. PMID: 32743989Free PMC Article
Botulinum toxin treatment for facial palsy: A systematic review.
Cooper L, Lui M, Nduka C
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2017 Jun;70(6):833-841. Epub 2017 Feb 16 doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2017.01.009. PMID: 28389084
Physical therapy for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
Teixeira LJ, Valbuza JS, Prado GF
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD006283. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006283.pub3. PMID: 22161401

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