Structural remodeling secondary to functional remodeling in advanced-stage peripheral facial neuritis

Structural remodeling is a classic manifestation of disease decompensation. Facial synkinesis is the most troubling sequela of peripheral facial neuritis, and its structural remodeling, especially in white matter (WM), is still poorly understood. Therefore, understanding WM microstructure is important for predicting WM pathology and for early intervention in facial synkinesis patients. A total of 20 facial synkinesis patients (18 men and 2 women; mean age, 33.35 ± 6.97 years old) and 19 healthy controls (17 men and 2 women; mean age, 33.21 ± 6.75 years old) were enrolled in this study. rs-fMRI data, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) data were collected, and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) values were used to analyze changes in WM microstructure and interhemispheric coordination. Compared with the healthy controls, facial synkinesis patients exhibited significantly lower regional fractional anisotropy (FA) in the genu of the corpus callosum and the body of the corpus callosum, significantly higher regional FA in the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, and significantly decreased VMHC values bilaterally in the orbital inferior frontal gyri, the fusiform gyri, the superior temporal gyri, the superior frontal gyri, and the supplementary motor areas. Furthermore, a lower regional FA in the genu of the corpus callosum was correlated with higher BDI scores in facial synkinesis patients. Structural remodeling, especially changes in white matter microstructure, may be the central mechanism for severe sequelae of peripheral facial neuritis.