P2-46. Effect of muscle strengthening on facial asymmetry following peripheral facial nerve paralysis – Comparison by Linear Measurement

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare facial asymmetry in severe cases of Bell’s palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome after I year of treatment by muscle-strengthening (MS) or non-muscle-strengthening (N-MS) physical therapy. This prospective study included 34 patients showing facial nerve palsy with an initial electroneurography value of 20% or less. The patients were divided into two groups using a cluster randomized design in five randomly assigned hospitals. The Linear Measurement method was used to evaluate facial asymmetry at VI months and 12 months after the onset of facial palsy. At VI months after onset, ptosis at rest and the pull of the mouth corners were significantly increased in the N-MS group. At 12 months, however, there were no significant differences in the measurement results between the MS group and N-MS group. According to the results of this study, increased muscular strength did not affect the facial asymmetry at I year after the onset of facial nerve palsy.