Electrogustometry in facial palsy.

Abstract

Gustatory function was examined in the early stages of idiopathic Bell's palsy (74 cases) and Ramsay Hunt's syndrome (21 cases). It was found that electrogustometry, used to estimate the degree of gustatory disturbance and to follow its development in these cases, contributes not only to determining lesion location but to establishing prognosis of the paralysis. Our study to date allows no optimism concerning cases of complete facial paralysis associated with severe disturbance of the gustatory function. Moreover, as recovery of the gustatory function precedes that of facial movement in most cases, and as the motor nerve fibers usually begin to degenerate two weeks after onset, it was determined that patients should be examined within at least one week after onset.