Prognostic Value of Electrophysiological Tests in Bell’s Palsy

Melike Tavşan; Oğuz Karagüzel; Ufuk Şener; Yaşar Zorlu; Murat Özçelik

Melike Tavşan, Oğuz Karagüzel, Ufuk Şener, Yaşar Zorlu, Murat Özçelik

Neurology Clinic, Ministry Of Health, Tepecik Education And Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey

Keywords: Bell’s palsy, electromyography, blink reflex, facial nerve

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Bell’s palsy (BP) is the most common disease of the facial nerve. It is acute paralysis of the mimic muscles. The etiology and treatment of BP is not clear. As it is an aesthetic and functional problem, early prognostic diagnosis is more important. Electrophysiologic tests can be used for this purpose

METHODS: 46 patients were included to the study. All patients were classified according to House-Brackman system. Facial nerve conduction and blink reflex were studied on 10-12th day of the onset of the BP.

RESULTS: The patients who had increase of muscle response (M-response) latency on 10-12th day, had less recovery after one month. There was also no statistical difference between R1 latency on 10-12th day and clinical grade in first month. But there was significant difference between R2 latency on 10-12th day and clinical grade in first month.

CONCLUSION: Prolonge of M-response latency and the absence of blink reflex showed poor prognosis.