Gillies and McLaughlin's Dynamic Muscle Support in Irreversible Facial Palsy

The goals in surgical treatment of unilateral long-standing facial paralysis are individual concepts restoring mimetic function, aesthetic facial symmetry at rest and protection of the eye by complete eyelid closure. Facial reanimation with free neuromuscular flaps is the actual standard treatment. The reanimation of the paralysed eyelid is still a major problem. Gillis described in 1934 his technique using the transposition of the temporal muscle with two strips of its own fascia performing a dynamic support of the upper and lower eylid. McLaughlin was using the temporal muscle in combination with fascia lata for the reanimation of the oral muscle sling ( 1953). There are still some indications for these procedures. The long-term follow-up of 93 patients with Gillies procedure and 180 patients with McLaughlin's muscle support gives a sound base for decision making in facial reanimation.