[Evaluation of facial nerve palsy with electrogustometry and stapedial reflex].
BACKGROUND
To clarify the prognosis of facial nerve palsy, electroneuronal tests, including electrogustometry and stapedial reflex, have been utilized. But, the relationship among these tests and patients' prognosis is not clear.


METHODS
Sixty five patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy were investigated. Electrogustometry (EG), stapedial reflex (SR) and blink reflex (BR) were performed at the first visit on the consult of facial nerve palsy. The palsy scale (full score is 100 points) was evaluated 8 weeks after the onset, and we defined cure cases if score became over 90 points. The cure ratio was examined on each group of EG positive or negative, SR positive or negative and BR R1 wave positive or negative, respectively. The relationship among these three examinations was also investigated.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the cure ratio of EG positive and negative groups. However, the cure ratio of SR positive group was significantly larger than that of SR negative group. The cure ratio of BR positive group was 100%, regardless of the result of other two tests.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that SR is a more useful parameter than EG for the evaluation of the prognosis of patients with facial nerve palsy, and the pathological meaning of these 2 tests is different from that of BR.
Nakagawa
Itsuo
I
Department of Anesthesia, Chugoku Rosai General Hospital, Kure 737-0193.
Hidaka
Shozo
S
Uesugi
Fumihiko
F
Kubo
Takashi
T
Kai
Tomoko
T
Hamaguchi
Kaoru
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001767:Blinking; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D013198:Stapedius / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013652:Taste Threshold