Bell’s Palsy

The Department Of Neurology

Cong Lin
George Herbert Bush
Concept

Bell’s Palsy:
 Facial weakness of the peripheral type
 idiopathic
 outside the central nervous system
 without any other cranial nerve palsies
[Etiology and pathology]

Etiology pathology

 the cause is unclear  a viral infection

 exposure to chill  edema
 degeneration.
Anatomicophysiology
[Clinical features]

 Occurs at any age and any time.

 unilateral
 The onset is acute. attain maximum
paralysis in 48h --5 days.
 pain behind the ear.
Peripheral facial palsy
[Diagnosis]

 based on the acute onset and the

peripheral facial palsy.
 distinguished from facial paralysis due
to other causes
 distinguished from the supranuclear one
(such as in a stroke)
Prognosis

 usually good. recover within a few

weeks or in a month or two.

 But if there is evidence of denervation

after 10 days, one may expect a long
delay in the onset of recovery.
Treatment

 surgical decompression may be harmful.

 take some corticosteroids, such as
prednisone (40 to 60mg/day).
 Vitamin B
 antiviral agents may be useful.
 physiatrics and acupuncture therapy
 a shield to protect the eye.
 summary

 The major features of

Bell’s palsy is:
 Any age, any time.  Bell’s phenomenon
 Unilateral
 Acute
 Peripheral facial palsy
 idiopathic
Thanks