Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- single episode
- unilateral
- absence of constitutional symptoms
- involvement of all nerve branches
- keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- pain
- synkinesis
Risk factors
- intranasal influenza vaccination
- pregnancy
- upper respiratory tract infection
- arid/cold climate
- hypertension
- family history of Bell's palsy
- diabetes
- dental procedures
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- clinical diagnosis
- electroneuronography (ENoG) (evoked electromyography)
- needle electromyography
- serology for Borrelia burgdorferi
Investigations to consider
- pure-tone audiometry
- tympanometry and stapedius reflex
- MRI (gadolinium-enhanced fine-cut of facial nerve course)
- CT (fine-cut, non-enhanced)
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Matthew Q. Miller, MD
Assistant Professor Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Director UNC Facial Nerve Center
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
NC
Disclosures
MQM is a paid consultant for Checkpoint Surgical, Inc.
Liliana Ein, MD
Assistant Professor Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
University of Miami
Miami
FL
Disclosures
LE declares that she has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Matthew Q. Miller and Dr Liliana Ein would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Tessa Hadlock, Dr Nathan Jowett, Dr Vishnu Madhok, Dr Iain Swan, Dr Pauline Lockhart, Dr Michael Norbury, and Dr John Gail Neely, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
TH, VM, IS, PL, MN, and JGN declare that they have no competing interests. NJ holds a patent on the methods and systems for functional electrical stimulation of the paralysed face (WO2017124019A1).
Peer reviewers
Giles Elrington, MBBS (Hons), MD, FRCP
Consultant Neurologist
Barts Health NHS Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
GE is involved in a number of clinical trials on multiple sclerosis sponsored by Genzyme, Roche, Teva, Novartis, Biogen, as well as one funded by the MRC. He is also involved in clinical trials sponsored by Allergan, NMT Medical, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Bristol-Myers, the UK's Parkinson's Disease Research Group, and Pharmacia. In addition, he has attended lectures, conferences and symposia with the following companies - GSK, AstraZeneca, MSD, Almirall, Pfizer, Menarini, Allergan, Biogen, Teva, Conference Plus, Infomed, and BMJ.
Patrick Grogan, MD
Major
US Air Force
MC Program Director
Department of Neurology
MMCN
Wilford Hall Medical Center
Lackland Air Force Base
TX
Disclosures
PG declares that he has no competing interests.
Venkat Srinivasan, MBBS, DLO, FRCS (Ed), FRCS (ORL)
Consultant in ENT/Thyroid Surgery
Arrowe Park Hospital
Upton
Wirral
UK
Disclosures
VS declares that he has no competing interests.
References
Key articles
Gronseth GS, Paduga R; American Academy of Neurology. Evidence-based guideline update: steroids and antivirals for Bell palsy. Neurology. 2012 (reaffirmed 2023) Nov 27;79(22):2209-13.Full text Abstract
Madhok VB, Gagyor I, Daly F, et al. Corticosteroids for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(7):CD001942.Full text Abstract
Gagyor I, Madhok VB, Daly F, et al. Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Sep 5;9:CD001869.Full text Abstract
Gantz BJ, Rubinstein JT, Gidley P, et al. Surgical management of Bell palsy. Laryngoscope. 1999 Aug;109(8):1177-88. Abstract
Baugh RF, Basura GJ, Ishii LE, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-27.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available here.
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