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Bell's palsy
facial palsy
Is an inflammatory swelling of the facial nerve
(the nerve supplying the muscles of the face) in the
facial canal of the middle ear, leading in severe cases to an acute compression
neuropathy which results in a temporary loss of function (temporary
weakness in the facial muscles).
The cause is unkown (idiopathic); however, recent
evidence suggests that herpes simplex virus type 1
invasion may trigger the process (an association
with herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA in endoneurial fluid and posterior
auricular muscle has been documented).
The incidence rate of this disorder is about 23
per 100,000 annually, or about 1 in 60 or 70 persons in a lifetime.
Clinical suspicion
The patient may have been exposed to a mild draft
or a common infection. Usually begins with mild pain behind the ear, followed
within several hours by paralysis of the muscles supplied by the facial
nerve.
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Diagnosis
Lower motor neuron lesion of facial nerve (whole
face on one side shows weakness of the facial muscles)
accompanied by unilateral loss of taste (chorda tympani).
Treatment
One very important aspect in the treatment of Bell's palsy is to
prevent corneal ulceration. This can be accomplished by the use
of paper tape to depress the upper eyelid during sleep and prevent corneal
drying. Massage of the weakened muscles may also be useful.
A course of glucocorticoids, given as prednisone 60 to 80 mg daily
during the first 5 days and then tapered over the next 5 days, appears
to shorten the recovery period and modestly improve the functional outcome.
In one double-blind study, patients treated within 3 days of onset with
both prednisone and acyclovir (400 mg five times daily for 10 days) had
a better outcome than patients treated with prednisone alone.
N.B. note that in facial palsy laughter is preserved
because it is supplied by extrapyramidal fibers (as it is an emotion)
just as crying is present in dysarthric patients.
Prognosis
Recovery usually begins within 2 months, and within
9 months to 1 year. 80% of patients report virtually
normal function.
Electromyography may be of some prognostic value; evidence of denervation
after 10 days indicates that there has been axonal degeneration and that
there will be a long delay (3 months, as a rule) before regeneration occurs
and that it may be incomplete. The presence of incomplete paralysis in
the first week is the most favorable prognostic sign.
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