Bells Palsy

The Department Of Neurology

Cong Lin

George Herbert Bush

Concept
Bells Palsy:

Facial weakness of the peripheral type

idiopathic
outside the central nervous system
without any other cranial nerve palsies

[Etiology and pathology]

Etiology
the
cause
is
unclear
exposure to chill

pathology
a viral
infection
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 Bells palsy is:
Any age, any time.
Unilateral
Acute
Peripheral facial
palsy
idiopathic

Bells
phenomenon

Thanks