title: Evidence based management of Bell's palsy.
abstract: Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) is caused by the acute onset of lower motor neurone weakness of the facial nerve with no detectable cause. With a lifetime risk of 1 in 60 and an annual incidence of 11-40/100,000 population, the condition resolves completely in around 71% of untreated cases. In the remainder facial nerve function will be impaired in the long term. We summarise current published articles regarding early management strategies to maximise recovery of facial nerve function and minimise long-term sequelae in the condition.
authors.affiliation: Bradford Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Research and Trials Lead Bradford Institute for Health Research, Visiting Senior Lecturer Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jim.mccaul@me.com.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCaul
authors.affiliation: North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cascarini
authors.affiliation: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Godden
authors.affiliation: Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.affiliation: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: The Royal Marsden Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Cyrus J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kerawala
mesh_terms: D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
keywords: Accupuncture; Antiviral therapy; Bell's palsy; Corticosteroids; Hyperbaric oxygen; Idiopathic facial paralysis; Physical therapy; Surgery