Bell's palsy. A diagnosis of exclusion

Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)

BACKGROUND

Antiviral agents against herpes simplex virus are widely used in the treatment of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), but their effectiveness is uncertain. Significant morbidity can be associated with severe cases.

OBJECTIVES

This review addresses the effect of antiviral therapy on Bell's palsy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We updated the search of the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Trials Register (December 2008), MEDLINE (from January 1966 to December 8 2008), EMBASE (from January 1980 to December 8 2008) and LILACS (from January 1982 to December 2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized trials of antivirals with and without corticosteroids versus control therapies for the treatment of Bell's palsy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Twenty-three papers were selected for consideration.

MAIN RESULTS

Seven trials including 1987 participants met the inclusion criteria, adding five studies to the two in the previous review.Incomplete recovery at one year. There was no significant benefit in the rate of incomplete recovery from antivirals compared with placebo (n = 1886, RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.18). In meta-analyses with some unexplained heterogeneity, the outcome with antivirals was significantly worse than with corticosteroids (n = 768, RR 2.82, 95% CI 1.09 to 7.32) and the outcome with antivirals plus corticosteroids was significantly better than with placebo (n = 658, RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.76).Motor synkinesis or crocodile tears at one year. In single trials, there was no significant difference in long term sequelae comparing antivirals and corticosteroids with corticosteroids alone (n = 99, RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14 to 1.07) or antivirals with corticosteroids (n = 101, RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.51 to 2.07).Adverse events.There was no significant difference in rates of adverse events between antivirals and placebo (n = 1544, RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.38), between antivirals and corticosteroids (n = 667, RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.41) or between the antiviral-corticosteroid combination and placebo (n = 658, RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.66).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

High quality evidence showed no significant benefit from anti-herpes simplex antivirals compared with placebo in producing complete recovery from Bell's palsy. Moderate quality evidence showed that antivirals were significantly less likely than corticosteroids to produce complete recovery.

Economic evaluation of early administration of prednisolone and/or aciclovir for the treatment of Bell's palsy

OBJECTIVES

Bell's palsy (BP), which causes facial paralysis, affects 11-40 people per 100 000 per annum in the UK. Its cause is unknown but as many as 30% of patients have continuing facial disfigurement, psychological difficulties and occasionally facial pain. We present an randomised controlled trial (RCT)-based economic evaluation of the early administration of steroids (prednisolone) and/or antivirals (acyclovir) compared to placebo, for treatment of BP.

METHODS

The RCT was not powered to detect differences in the cost-effectiveness; therefore, we adopted a decision analytic model approach as a way of gaining precision in our cost-effectiveness comparisons [e.g. prednisolone only (PO) versus acyclovir only versus prednisolone and acyclovir versus placebo, prednisolone versus no prednisolone (NP) and acyclovir versus no acyclovir]. We assumed that trial interventions affect the probability of being cured/not cured but their consequences are independent of the initial therapy. We used the percentage of individuals with a complete recovery (based on House-Brackmann grade = 1) at 9 months and Quality Adjusted Life Years (e.g. derived on responses to the Health Utilities Index III) as measures of effectiveness. Other parameter estimates were obtained from trial data.

RESULTS

PO dominated-i.e. was less costly and more effective-all other therapy strategies in the four arms model [77% probability of cost-effective (CE)]. Moreover, Prednisolone dominated NP (77% probability of being CE at 30 000 UK pounds threshold) while no acyclovir dominated aciclovir (85% chance of CE), in the two arms models, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of BP with prednisolone is likely to be considered CE while treatment with acyclovir is highly unlikely to be considered CE. Further data on costs and utilities would be useful to confirm findings.

A New Classification System for Facial Paralysis in the Clinical Setting

A review of the literature on clinical manifestations of facial paralysis shows a lack of well-integrated, cohesive methods of classification. The aim of the classification system presented here is to provide a clinically relevant, generalized scheme for categorization, focusing on clinical presentation and general etiology. This article will also describe some of the more common conditions that have shaped the organization of the classification charts.

Chiropractic care of a patient with vertebral subluxation and Bell's palsy

OBJECTIVE

To describe the chiropractic care of a patient medically diagnosed with Bell's palsy and discuss issues clinically relevant to this disorder, such as its epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, care, and prognosis.

CLINICAL FEATURES

A 49-year-old woman with a medical diagnosis of Bell's palsy sought chiropractic care. Her symptoms included right facial paralysis, extreme phonophobia, pain in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and neck pain. Signs of cervical vertebral and TMJ subluxations included edema, tenderness, asymmetry of motion and posture, and malalignment detected from plain film radiographs.

INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME

The patient was cared for with full spine contact-specific, high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustments (Gonstead Technique) to sites of vertebral and occipital subluxations. The patient's left TMJ was also adjusted. The initial symptomatic response to care was positive, and the patient made continued improvements during the 6 months of care.

CONCLUSION

There are indications that patients suffering from Bell's palsy may benefit from a holistic chiropractic approach that not only includes a focus of examination and care of the primary regional areas of complaint (eg, face, TMJ) but also potentially from significant vertebral subluxation concomitants.

Not all facial paralysis is Bell's palsy: a case report

Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial paralysis is the most common cause of unilateral facial paralysis. This case report describes a patient referred for physical therapy evaluation and treatment with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy. On initial presentation in physical therapy the patient had unilateral facial paralysis, ipsilateral regional facial pain and numbness, and a history of a gradual, progressive onset of symptoms. The process of evaluating this patient in physical therapy, as well as the recognition of signs and symptoms typical and atypical of Bell's palsy, are described. This report emphasizes the importance of early recognition of the signs and symptoms inconsistent with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy, and indications for prompt, appropriate referral for additional diagnostic services.

Facial nerve palsy in an infant with hemophilia A

A 5-month-old infant with hitherto undiagnosed hemophilia A, who developed a unilateral lower motor neurone type of facial palsy, is described. A high-resolution CT scan confirmed the nerve palsy to be a consequence of a hemotympanum. The patient recovered completely in 7-10 days after therapy with factor VIII concentrate.

The facial nerve. Current trends in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation

Facial paralysis is a potentially devastating disorder with numerous implications. Multiple entities must be considered in its etiology, and recent advances in microbiology, radiographic imaging, electrodiagnostic testing, and microsurgery have provided great insight into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the facial nerve. Recent DNA PCR testing has shed new insight into the potential cause for Bell's palsy. This article focuses on the evaluation, differential diagnosis, medical treatment, and rehabilitation of facial nerve pathology with primary emphasis on facial paralysis. Surgical management is also discussed, including reanimation of the paralyzed face.

A Survey of Facial Paralysis: Etiology and Incidence

Facial paralysis has numerous etiologies ranging from the most common, Bell's palsy and trauma, to rare tumors and congenital anomalies. This paper divides the etiologies of facial paralysis into five major classifications: idiopathic, traumatic, infectious, neoplastic and neurologic. The incidence of each of these classifications has been estimated from incidence rate information published in the United States and abroad. Using this information, an estimate of the incidence rate has been determined. This information was previously untabulated, thus making statistical analysis nearly impossible regarding this disorder.

The possible contributing factors for the success of steroid therapy in Bell's palsy: a clinical and electrophysiological study

Incomplete recovery from Bell's palsy was observed in some patients even after the intake of corticosteroids. This prospective study was performed on 160 patients with unilaterial nonrecurrent Bell's palsy in order to investigate the role of prednisolone on the prognosis of Bell's palsy. Ninety-three patients were given prednisolone tablets (1 mg/kg body wt/day up to 70 mg) for six successive days, then the dose was reduced gradually over the next four days. The remaining 67 patients were not given prednisolone (control group). Facial nerve recovery was assessed clinically and electrophysiologically for up to one year. The results of this study suggested that the most probable contributing factor for the success of prednisolone in improving the prognosis of Bell's palsy was its early intake (within the first 24 hours following onset).