Static and dynamic ultrasound echomyography in healthy adults and patients with facial palsy – gender-specific reference values

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify those facial muscles and arteries accessible for reliable quantification by ultrasound and to provide reference values of muscle size in rest and contraction, and perfusion of arteries. Material and methods: We used a HD11 XE ultrasound machine from Philips, Netherlands, with two linear probes (L12 – 3; L15 – 7io). Bilateral scans of reliable muscles were performed in 140 adult volunteers (70 women; age: 18 to 92 years; Fig. 1 – 3). In total 15 facial muscles were identifiable. Seven muscles, three arteries were easily reproducible. These were: frontalis, orbicu…