Bell's palsy: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
*Dysfunction of peripheral CN VII of unknown cause
[[File:Cranial nerve VII.png|thumb|Bilateral course of facial nerve. Note that the forehead muscles receive innervation from both hemispheres of the brain, which is why there is forehead sparing for [[stroke]] but not Bell's palsy (or other peripheral facial nerve injury).]]
*Maximal clinical weakness around 3wks; at least partial recovery by 6 months
*Dysfunction of peripheral [[cranial nerve]] VII of unknown cause due to Inflammation at geniculate ganglion <ref>Greco A. et al. Bell's palsy and autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev. 2012;12 622-627</ref>
**Thought that may be associated with [[herpes simplex virus]]
*Maximal clinical weakness around 3 weeks; at least partial recovery by 6 months
*Always test CN VI function (should be normal) to rule-out [[CVA]]
*Always test CN VI function (should be normal) to rule-out [[CVA]]
 
*Bilateral Bell's palsy associated with [[Lyme disease]]
==Differential Diagnosis==
#Lyme Disease
#[[HIV - AIDS (Main)|HIV]]
#[[Otitis Media]]
#Sarcoidosis (esp if b/l)
 
==Work Up==
*Clinicians should NOT obtain routine laboratory testing or diagnostic imaging in patients with new-onset Bell's palsy (Level C)<ref>Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.</ref>


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Acute onset (over hours) of unilateral facial paralysis
[[File:Bell's palsy.png|thumb|Right-sided peripheral facial nerve palsy with inability to wrinkle the forehead and nose, unequal lid fissures, and inability to lift the corner of the mouth.]]
[[File:Bellspalsy.jpg|thumb|A person attempting to show his teeth and raise his eyebrows with Bell's palsy on his right side; notice how the forehead is NOT spared).]]
*Acute onset (over hours) of unilateral [[facial paralysis]]
**No forehead sparing
**No forehead sparing
**Mouth drawn to the non-affected side
*Inability to raise eyebrow on affected side
*Drooping of angle of the mouth
*Incomplete closure of the eyelids on the affected side
*Incomplete closure of the eyelids on the affected side
**Can lead to corneal exposure keratitis
**Can lead to corneal exposure keratitis


==Treatment==
===Associated Symptoms===
#Cornea eye protection (Level X)<ref>Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.</ref>
*Alterations in taste
##Artificial tears qhr while pt is awake AND
*Hyperacusis
##Ophthalmic ointment at night
*Inability to produce tears
##Protective glasses or goggles
*Subjective feeling of facial numbness without objective findings
#Steroids + antiviral therapy for patients <72 hours of symptom onset (Level B)<ref>Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.</ref>
*Retroauricular pain
##Corticosteroids
 
###Prednisone 60-80mg qday x1wk<ref>UpToDate. Bell's Palsy Prognosis and Treatment. March, 2014</ref>
==Differential Diagnosis==
##Antivirals
{{Facial paralysis}}
###Valacyclovir 1000mg TID x1wk<ref>UpToDate. Bell's Palsy Prognosis and Treatment. March, 2014</ref>
 
####Or, Acyclovir 400mg 5x per day x 1wk
===Others===
*[[Amyloidosis]]
*[[Botulism]]
*[[Guillain-Barré Syndrome]] (bilateral palsy)
*[[HIV - AIDS (Main)|HIV]]
*[[Intracranial Hemorrhage]]
*[[Malignant Otitis Externa]]
*[[Meningitis]]
*[[Neurosyphilis]]
*[[Otitis Media]] (acute or chronic)
*[[Parotitis]]
*[[Sarcoidosis]]
*[[Sjögren Syndrome]]
*[[Eclampsia]]
 
==Evaluation==
===Workup===
*Clinicians should NOT obtain routine laboratory testing or diagnostic imaging in patients with new-onset Bell's palsy ([[EBQ:Evidence Levels|Level C]])<ref name="bells guidelines">Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.</ref>
 
===Diagnosis===
*Clinical diagnosis
**Must performed detail ear exam to rule out [[otitis media|ear infection]] and [[Herpes zoster oticus|Ramsay Hunt Syndrome]]
**Facial weakness progressing to paralysis over weeks to months, progressive twitching or facial spasm suggests a neoplasm affecting the facial nerve
**If facial paralysis + pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss, suspect a glomus tumor or cerebellar pontine angle tumor
 
==Management==
{{Bell's palsy Treatment}}


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
*Discharge with ophtho f/u for monitoring of the affected cornea
*Discharge with ophtho follow up for monitoring of the affected cornea
*Refer to a facial nerve specialist for:<ref>Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.</ref>
*Refer to a facial nerve specialist for:<ref name="bells guidelines" />
**New or worsening neurologic findings at any point
**New or worsening neurologic findings at any point
**Ocular symptoms developing at any point
**Ocular symptoms developing at any point
**Incomplete facial recovery 3 months after initial symptom onset.
**Incomplete facial recovery 3 months after initial symptom onset
 
==Prognosis==
*Most patients recover completely, although some have permament disfiguring facial weakness<ref>Peitersen E. The natrual history of Bell's palsy. Am J Otol 1982;4:107-111.</ref>
**71% of untreated patients recover completely
**An additional 13% of untreated patients achieve near-normal function (a total of 84% achieve normal or near-normal function even without treatment)
*Up to 10% of patients have a recurrence on the ipsilateral or controlateral side
 
===Poor Prognostic Indicators===
''Any one of the following''<ref>Gilden. Bell's Palsy. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:1323-1331</ref>
*Older age
*Hypertension
*Impairment of taste
*Pain other than in the ear
*Complete facial weakness


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[CVA]]
*[[CVA]]
 
*[[Facial paralysis]]
==Source==
*[[Cranial nerve abnormalities]]
*Tintinalli
*[[Lyme disease]]


==References==
==References==
<references/>  
<references/>  


[[Category:Neuro]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Ophtho]]
[[Category:Ophthalmology]]

Latest revision as of 08:23, 14 May 2022

Background

Bilateral course of facial nerve. Note that the forehead muscles receive innervation from both hemispheres of the brain, which is why there is forehead sparing for stroke but not Bell's palsy (or other peripheral facial nerve injury).
  • Dysfunction of peripheral cranial nerve VII of unknown cause due to Inflammation at geniculate ganglion [1]
  • Maximal clinical weakness around 3 weeks; at least partial recovery by 6 months
  • Always test CN VI function (should be normal) to rule-out CVA
  • Bilateral Bell's palsy associated with Lyme disease

Clinical Features

Right-sided peripheral facial nerve palsy with inability to wrinkle the forehead and nose, unequal lid fissures, and inability to lift the corner of the mouth.
A person attempting to show his teeth and raise his eyebrows with Bell's palsy on his right side; notice how the forehead is NOT spared).
  • Acute onset (over hours) of unilateral facial paralysis
    • No forehead sparing
  • Inability to raise eyebrow on affected side
  • Drooping of angle of the mouth
  • Incomplete closure of the eyelids on the affected side
    • Can lead to corneal exposure keratitis

Associated Symptoms

  • Alterations in taste
  • Hyperacusis
  • Inability to produce tears
  • Subjective feeling of facial numbness without objective findings
  • Retroauricular pain

Differential Diagnosis

Facial paralysis

Others

Evaluation

Workup

  • Clinicians should NOT obtain routine laboratory testing or diagnostic imaging in patients with new-onset Bell's palsy (Level C)[2]

Diagnosis

  • Clinical diagnosis
    • Must performed detail ear exam to rule out ear infection and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
    • Facial weakness progressing to paralysis over weeks to months, progressive twitching or facial spasm suggests a neoplasm affecting the facial nerve
    • If facial paralysis + pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss, suspect a glomus tumor or cerebellar pontine angle tumor

Management

Eye Protection

  • Cornea eye protection (Level X)[2]
    • Artificial tears qhr while patient is awake
    • Ophthalmic ointment at night
    • Eye should be taped shut at night
    • Protective glasses or goggles

Steroids

Should be started within 72hrs of symptom onset[3]

Antivirals

Most likely no added benefit when combined with steroids.[6] However also little harm associated with antivirals especially in patients with normal renal function[5]

Antibiotics

  • Consider empiric doxycycline if high index of suspicion for Lyme based on clinical presentation or lab data

Disposition

  • Discharge with ophtho follow up for monitoring of the affected cornea
  • Refer to a facial nerve specialist for:[2]
    • New or worsening neurologic findings at any point
    • Ocular symptoms developing at any point
    • Incomplete facial recovery 3 months after initial symptom onset

Prognosis

  • Most patients recover completely, although some have permament disfiguring facial weakness[7]
    • 71% of untreated patients recover completely
    • An additional 13% of untreated patients achieve near-normal function (a total of 84% achieve normal or near-normal function even without treatment)
  • Up to 10% of patients have a recurrence on the ipsilateral or controlateral side

Poor Prognostic Indicators

Any one of the following[8]

  • Older age
  • Hypertension
  • Impairment of taste
  • Pain other than in the ear
  • Complete facial weakness

See Also

References

  1. Greco A. et al. Bell's palsy and autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev. 2012;12 622-627
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Baugh RF, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-S27.
  3. Vargish L. For Bell’s palsy, start steroids early; no need for an antiviral. J Fam Pract. Jan 2008; 57(1): 22–25http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183838/pdf/JFP-57-22.pdf
  4. 4.0 4.1 UpToDate. Bell's Palsy Prognosis and Treatment. March, 2014
  5. 5.0 5.1 Gronseth GS, Paduga R. Evidence-based guideline update: Steroids and antivirals for Bell palsy: Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2012Full Text
  6. Lockhart et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD001869.
  7. Peitersen E. The natrual history of Bell's palsy. Am J Otol 1982;4:107-111.
  8. Gilden. Bell's Palsy. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:1323-1331