Bell’s Palsy
Key Points
Key Points
- Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paresis/paralysis, and the most common acute mononeuropathy.
- Patients may have impaired eye closure which may lead to eye injury.
- Not all patients with facial paresis/paralysis have Bell’s palsy. Alternative underlying etiologies must be considered.
Figure 1. Bell's Palsy
Diagnosis
Diagnos...
...en evaluating a patient with facial paresis/par...
Table 1. Abbreviations and Definitions of Common Terms
...e 1. Abbreviations and Definitions of C...
Table 2. House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System
...House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading Syste...
Table 3. Etiologies and Clinical Features of Facial Paralysis
...able 3. Etiologies and Clinical Fea...
Treatment
...reatment...
...e 4. Summary of Guideline Action S...
Diagnost...
...tory and physical examinationClini...
...testingClinicians should NOT obtain routi...
Diagnostic imagingClinicians should NOT routinely...
...trodiagnostic Testing...
...paresis/paralysisClinicians should NO...
...h complete paresis/paralysisClinicians may off...
...eatment...
...teroids...
...id useClinicians should prescribe oral steroi...
...iral Therapy...
...nicians should NOT prescribe oral antiviral t...
CombinationClinicians may offer oral antiv...
...ther...
...nicians should implement eye protect...
...compressionNo recommendation can be mad...
...nctureNo recommendation can be made regarding...
...therapyNo recommendation can be made regard...
...nt Follow-upClinicians should reassess or refer...
Figure 2. Bell’s Palsy Management Algorithm
...2. Bell’s Palsy Management Algorithm