title: Outcome of facial physiotherapy in patients with prolonged idiopathic facial palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether patients who remain symptomatic more than a year following idiopathic facial paralysis gain benefit from tailored facial physiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-year retrospective review was conducted of all symptomatic patients. Data collected included: age, gender, duration of symptoms, Sunnybrook facial grading system scores pre-treatment and at last visit, and duration of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 22 patients (with a mean age of 50.5 years (range, 22-75 years)) who had been symptomatic for more than a year following idiopathic facial paralysis. The mean duration of symptoms was 45 months (range, 12-240 months). The mean duration of follow up was 10.4 months (range, 2-36 months). Prior to treatment, the mean Sunnybrook facial grading system score was 59 (standard deviation = 3.5); this had increased to 83 (standard deviation = 2.7) at the last visit, with an average improvement in score of 23 (standard deviation = 2.9). This increase was significant (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tailored facial therapy can improve facial grading scores in patients who remain symptomatic for prolonged periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery,Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham,UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy,Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy,Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery,Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham,UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Irving
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005152:Facial Muscles; D005154:Facial Nerve; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Treatment Outcome