Spontaneous Course of 220 Peripheral Non-traumatic Facial Palsies

Abstract

220 patients with acute, peripheral, non-traumatic facial palsies were examined. Out of a main group of 181 idiopathic palsies 140 were total and 41 incomplete. The remaining groups were: herpes zoster 17 patients, polyneuritis 8, diabetes 7, pregnancy 4, Melkersson's syndrome 2, and parotic tumor 1. At the first consultation a routine ENT-examination was made and the extent of the paralysis carefully described. To this was added audiometry, examination of the stapedius reflex, taste threshold, nasolacrimal reflex, and vestibular function. The patients were seen frequently until the paralysis disappeared or reached a stationary stage. Although no treatment was given except facial exercises, all the patients regained complete or partial function, the majority showing the first signs of function within three weeks. A smaller group improved after 2–4 months. Most patients recovered completely, a few showing varying degrees of sequelae, which were rarely cosmetically severe. Generally, the risk of incomplete recovery was greater the later the function began to recur.