Marin-Amat syndrome

Abstract

Involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups during voluntary contraction of the muscle group innervated by different nerves or different peripheral branches of the same nerve is defined as synkinesia. Synkinesia is one of the most common long-term complications of facial paralysis. Marin Amat syndrome is a rare type of synkinesis that occurs when the jaw is fully opened or the involuntary closure of the eyelids during lateral movement of the jaw. It has been suggested that aberrant regeneration of nerve 7 and incorrect innervation between nerves 5 and 7 may be responsible for this syndrome. In this case report, a 31 years old male patient presented to our clinic with involuntary closure of the left eyelid during laughing and mouth opening-closing movements 1 year after a peripheral facial paralysis. Marin-Amat syndrome, a rare synkinesis, is important to remember in patients with involuntary closure of the eyelid with jaw opening or laughter after peripheral facial paralysis.