Prediction of the prognosis of Bell's palsy using multivariate analyses.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to establish more reliable formulae for predicting the prognosis for patients with Bell's palsy at initial examination.


METHODS
One hundred four consecutive patients with Bell's palsy whose facial movement was either completely recovered or unchanged for more than 6 months.


METHODS
Diagnostic.


METHODS
Multivariate analyses were performed using the following variables: Age, House-Brackmann score (H-B), electroneuronography (ENoG), nerve excitability test (NET), blink reflex, and stapedial muscle reflex on initial examination.


RESULTS
Duration to maximal recovery can be predicted with the adjusted coefficient of 0.51 using H-B, ENoG, stapedial muscle reflex, and NET. Whether complete recovery would be achieved can be predicted with the Nagelkerke coefficient of determination of 0.72 using age, H-B, ENoG, and NET.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that the prognosis of patients who recovered early can be predicted more precisely; however, the prognosis of patients who recovered late and incomplete could not be predicted easily.
Ushio
Munetaka
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. IZT01356@nifty.ne.jp
Kondo
Kenji
K
Takeuchi
Naonobu
N
Tojima
Hitoshi
H
Yamaguchi
Takuhiro
T
Kaga
Kimitaka
K
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome