KBB-Forum
2011 , Cilt 10, Sayı 1
DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BELL PALSY
1İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB, Malatya, Türkiye2İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB, Malatya, Türkiye
3İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB, Malatya, Türkiye A variety of disorders can affect the function of the facial nerve, such as genetic factors, vascular iskemia and inflammation according to viral infections, otoimmune diseases, temporal bone fractures, head and neck tumours, central nervous system tumours. Despite all of these known conditions the most common presentation of facial paralysis is still “idiopathic”, or “Bell paralysis”. Spontaneous and complete recovery in first three months expected in 80-85% of all patients with Bell paralysis. But early treatment should be considered if recognized the factors effecting prognosis negatively. It has been known that the early administration of corticosteroids improves the chance of full recovery. But there remains insufficient clinical evidences supporting the routine use of antiviral medications with or without corticosteroid therapy. In addition, in a few group of patients, early phase facial nerve decompression surgery techniques are supported by literatures, whereas it remains still highly controversial issue and necessary to support by further studies.
In this review we aimed to discuss the diagnosis and treatment procedures of Bell's palsy in the lights of literature.
Keywords : Bell palsy, diagnosis, treatment modalities