02260nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001000042653002100052100001900073700001800092700001300110700001500123700001400138700002600152700001500178700001600193245013100209856009800340300001200438490000700450520154700457022001402004       2022                            d  bLepra10aGeneral Medicine1 ade Oliveira MF1 ados Santos DF1 aPeres LB1 aAntunes DE1 aBraga VHG1 ade Oliveira Andrade A1 aPereira AA1 aGoulart IMB00aEvaluation of the integrity of the facial muscles in leprosy patients using surface electromyography: a cross-sectional study  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/admin/public/api/lepra/website/getDownload/62988809afaac178b765dc53  a115-1300 v933 a<p>Objective</p>

<p>This study sought to evaluate facial muscle integrity in clinical forms of leprosy through surface electromyography.</p>

<p>Methods</p>

<p>For evaluation of facial muscle integrity, 19 healthy subjects and 71 patients diagnosed with leprosy and under treatment in a National leprosy reference center were recruited. The muscles investigated, through surface electromyography, were the frontalis, orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus, masseter, and orbicularis oris. The evaluated features were&nbsp;Root Mean Square&nbsp;(RMS) and&nbsp;Mean frequency&nbsp;(Fmean). The facial muscles were analyzed jointly and separately for each leprosy clinical form and healthy individuals.</p>

<p>Results</p>

<p>Regarding the Fmean, there was a difference noted between the values of healthy subjects and patients of all clinical forms, except for the LL form (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.986). The highest frequency values were seen in TT and BL forms, which did not present a significant difference between each other (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.757). Asymmetry of the facial muscles was detected in TT (RMS) and TT, BB, and LL forms from the Fmean. RMS and Fmean indicated motor neurogenic impairment in facial muscles of all leprosy patients, except the LL form.</p>

<p>Conclusions</p>

<p>Surface electromyography is shown to be an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of facial motor disorders imperceptible to clinical examination, helping to prevent impairments, which is fundamental for the social inclusion of leprosy&nbsp;patients.</p>
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