Bell’s Palsy
Key Points
Key Points
- Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paresis/paralysis, and the most common acute mononeuropathy.
- Patients may have impaired eye closure which may lead to eye injury.
- Not all patients with facial paresis/paralysis have Bell’s palsy. Alternative underlying etiologies must be considered.
Figure 1. Bell's Palsy
Diagnosis
...Diagnosis
...evaluating a patient with facial paresis/paralysi...
Table 1. Abbreviations and Definitions of Common Terms
Table 1. Abbreviations and Definitions of Comm...
Table 2. House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System
...e 2. House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading Syst...
Table 3. Etiologies and Clinical Features of Facial Paralysis
...e 3. Etiologies and Clinical Features of...
Treatment
...Tre...
...Table 4. S...
...Diagn...
...ient history and physical examinationC...
...ingClinicians should NOT obtain routine l...
...gingClinicians should NOT routinely...
...Electrodiagnostic Testin...
...plete paresis/paralysisClinicians should NOT p...
...h complete paresis/paralysisClinicians...
...Treatm...
...Steroids
...teroid useClinicians should prescribe oral s...
...Anti...
...Clinicians should NOT prescribe ora...
...mbinationClinicians may offer oral antiviral...
...Ot...
Eye careClinicians should implement eye prote...
...ompressionNo recommendation can be...
...recommendation can be made regardin...
...l therapyNo recommendation can be made regardi...
...w-upClinicians should reassess or refer to a facia...
Figure 2. Bell’s Palsy Management Algorithm
...l’s Palsy Management Algorithm...