Application of Original Therapy for Stimulation of Oral Areas Innervated by the Trigeminal Nerve in a Child with Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome

Abstract

About 90% of children diagnosed with classic BWS have macroglossia, and 40% of them are submitted to surgical tongue reduction. The purpose of our article is to present a case study of a 5-month-old child with BWS who was treated with an original therapy for stimulation of oral areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. The therapy included stimulation of the upper and lower lip and muscles of the floor of the mouth. The treatment was provided by a therapist once a week. In addition, the child was stimulated every day at home by his mother. After 3 months, a significant improvement in oral alignment and function was achieved. Preliminary observations of therapy application for stimulation regions innervated by the trigeminal nerve in children with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome seem promising. The original therapy for stimulation of oral areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve is a good alternative to existing methods of surgical tongue reduction in children with BWS and macroglossia.