Recovery of facial movement and facial synkinesis in Bell's palsy patients.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relationship between the time course of development of facial synkinesis in patients with Bell's palsy and the severity of facial nerve damage.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Thirty-nine consecutive patients with Bell's palsy who developed synkinesis.


METHODS
Diagnostic.


METHODS
Subjects were divided into groups A (electroneurographic [ENoG] value, <10%; n = 31) and B (ENoG value, > or =10%; n = 8). Development of facial synkinesis was assessed based on the appearance of synkinetic potentials from the orbicularis oris muscle on the blink reflex test. Times to appearance of facial synkinesis in groups A and B were compared. The proportion of patients who developed facial synkinesis after complete recovery of facial movement was also assessed in 14 patients whose facial movement recovered completely.


RESULTS
The mean time to maximal recovery of facial movement was significantly longer in group A than in group B (p < 0.001), whereas the duration between the appearance of facial synkinesis and the onset of facial paralysis did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p = 0.72). The proportion of patients who developed facial synkinesis after complete recovery of facial movement was significantly greater in group B than in group A (p = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
During the course of recovery from Bell's palsy, the patients with an ENoG value of 10% or greater have a higher risk of developing facial synkinesis after complete recovery of facial movement.
Kanaya
Kaori
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. oriori1020@yahoo.co.jp
Ushio
Munetaka
M
Kondo
Kenji
K
Hagisawa
Miho
M
Suzukawa
Keigo
K
Yamaguchi
Takuhiro
T
Tojima
Hitoshi
H
Suzuki
Mitsuya
M
Yamasoba
Tatsuya
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D046608:Synkinesis / Q000503:physiopathology*