Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1978 Jul;41(7):649–652. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.41.7.649

Prognostic value of minimal excitability of facial nerve in Bell's palsy.

S Devi, Y Challenor, N Duarte, R E Lovelace
PMCID: PMC493110  PMID: 690643

Abstract

Nerve excitability is useful for prognosis in Bell's palsy. Minimal excitability values (MEV) were obtained by stimulating the facial nerve and recording the effective current (mA) required to evoke a minimal visible contraction of frontalis, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, and mentalis muscles respectively. Serial MEVs were performed on 100 patients with facial palsy, of whom 87 were followed for six months or to complete recovery; 61 patients were treated with steroids of whom 57 had good recovery. Serial MEVs were not only useful for prognosis, but also helpful in regulating the dosage of prednisone.

Full text

PDF
649

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adour K. K., Bell D. N., Hilsinger R. L., Jr Herpes simplex virus in idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell palsy). JAMA. 1975 Aug 11;233(6):527–530. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Adour K. K., Wingerd J., Bell D. N., Manning J. J., Hurley J. P. Prednisone treatment for idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). N Engl J Med. 1972 Dec 21;287(25):1268–1272. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197212212872503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Adour K. K., Wingerd J. Idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy): factors affecting severity and outcome in 446 patients. Neurology. 1974 Dec;24(12):1112–1116. doi: 10.1212/wnl.24.12.1112. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Alford B. R. Electrodiagnostic studies in facial paralysis. Arch Otolaryngol. 1967 Mar;85(3):259–264. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1967.00760040261005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Alford B. R., Jerger J. F., Coats A. C., Peterson C. R., Weber S. C. Diagnostic tests of facial nerve function. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1974 Jun;7(2):331–342. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CAMPBELL E. D., HICKEY R. P., NIXON K. H., RICHARDSON A. T. Value of nerve-excitability measurements in prognosis of facial palsy. Br Med J. 1962 Jul 7;2(5296):7–10. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5296.7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GILLIATT R. W., TAYLOR J. C. Electrical changes following section of the facial nerve. Proc R Soc Med. 1959 Dec;52:1080–1083. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Grose C., Feorino P. M., Dye L. A., Rand J. Bell's palsy and infectious mononucleosis. Lancet. 1973 Aug 4;2(7823):231–232. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)93134-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. LAUMANS E. P. NERVE EXCITABILITY TESTS IN FACIAL PARALYSIS. Arch Otolaryngol. 1965 May;81:478–488. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1965.00750050491007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Leclaire R., Tremblay L., Dupuis M. Prognostic value of nerve excitability test in Bell's palsy. Can J Otolaryngol. 1975;4(2):352–357. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. PAINE R. S. Facial paralysis in children; review of the differential diagnosis and report of ten cases treated with cortisone. Pediatrics. 1957 Feb;19(2):303–316. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Pollack M. A., Grose C., Friend H. Letter: Measles associated with Bell palsy. Am J Dis Child. 1975 Jun;129(6):747–747. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1975.02120430079022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. SAUNDERS W. H. Viral infections and cranial nerve paralysis. Arch Otolaryngol. 1963 Jul;78:85–90. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1963.00750020091011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Safman B. L. Bilateral pathology in Bell's palsy. Arch Otolaryngol. 1971 Jan;93(1):55–57. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1971.00770060087010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. TAVERNER D. ELECTRODIAGNOSIS IN FACIAL PALSY. Arch Otolaryngol. 1965 May;81:470–477. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1965.00750050483006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES