Pattern of facial palsy in a typical Nigerian specialist hospital

Predictors of Recovery in Facial Nerve Palsy: Insights From an Observational Study in Odisha, India

Background Facial nerve paralysis, leading to the loss of facial expression, poses significant discomfort to patients. While most individuals exhibit a favorable response to treatment, a subset experiences enduring facial deformities without clearly defined etiology. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors influencing outcomes and quality of life in facial nerve palsy patients, contributing to enhanced clinical management. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical College and Hospital, a tertiary care hospital. We included patients presenting with any clinical variety of facial nerve palsy, irrespective of age and gender. Only moribund and noncompliant cases were excluded. Patients underwent clinical assessment using the House-Brackmann (HB) grading at presentation and were subsequently monitored at three weeks, three months, and six months post-onset to assess recovery. Results Out of 66 patients, 18 (27.27%) fully recovered at three weeks, 50 (75.76%) recovered at three months, and 54 (81.82%) at six-month follow-up. Incomplete recovery was observed in 13 (19.69%) patients. Factors associated with favorable outcomes included younger age of onset (p = 0.003), lower baseline HB grade (IV or less) (p = 0.001), Electroneurography Degeneration Index (ENoG DI) of <70% (p < 0.0001), early initiation of treatment (within five days of onset) (p = 0.0003), and absence of comorbid conditions (p = 0.03). Gender and affected side (left or right) did not influence the outcome. Conclusion In summary, age, associated comorbid conditions, baseline HB grade, and extent of facial nerve degeneration are crucial predictors of outcomes in facial nerve palsy. This knowledge can guide clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies for improved patient care.

Prevalence, Etiology, Risk Factors, and Complications of Facial Nerve Palsy at King Abdulaziz Medical City: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

Facial nerve palsy is a condition of nerve damage that results in impaired facial movement on one or both sides of the face.

OBJECTIVES

This multicenter study aimed to determine the prevalence of facial nerve palsy and evaluate the association between its risk factors and complications to identify its etiology among patients admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2023.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to obtain data from medical records using the best care system for patients with facial nerve palsy. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (Released 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), Chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

 The study involved 123 patients, with 0.0164% prevalence. Bell's palsy was the most common etiology, accounting for 81.8% of cases, followed by head injuries, dental trauma, otitis media, stroke, and head and neck tumors. Obesity was the most significant risk factor, followed by upper respiratory problems. Hypertension and diabetes exert similar effects. Facial asymmetry, ophthalmic complications, and eye twitching were the most common complaints followed by speech difficulties, psychological and social effects, mouth twitching, and synkinesis.

CONCLUSION

 Facial nerve palsy is common in this region. We recommend health education sessions to increase public awareness and provide preventive strategies to reduce the complications of facial nerve damage. We recommend further research on the association between the risk factors and complications of facial nerve palsy.

Profile of facial palsy in Arar, northern Saudi Arabia

Background

The term facial palsy generally refers to weakness of the facial muscles, mainly resulting from temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve. Common causes of facial paralysis include infection or inflammation of the facial nerve, head trauma, head or neck tumor, stroke.

Objective

To outline the incidence of several etiologies and the profile of patients with peripheral facial paralysis attending the outpatient clinic of the neurology department in Hospitals of Arar City, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Arar city from October 2016 to May 2017. The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of the neurology department in hospitals of Arar City. Any ages of both sexes of all newly diagnosed unilateral facial palsy were included in the study. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 15, using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. P-value was considered significant if <0.05

Results

The mean age of the facial palsy cases was 33.65 (±11.71) years. Among the studied participants, the total prevalence of facial palsy was 26.3% (61% females and 39% males). The right side of the face was affected in 51.2% and the etiology was exposure to cold air current in 92.7% of cases. The treatment was physiotherapy in 80.5% of the cases, medical in 17.1% and surgical in 2.4%. There was significant relationship between smoking and the occurrence of facial palsy (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The study revealed that facial palsy was common in Arar city. The rate is higher among males than females. We also concluded that exposure to cold air current was the main etiology. We recommend health education sittings to bring awareness to the public about the nature, causes, risk factors, prevention and treatment of the disease.