Unilateral Peripheral Facial Palsy Research Articles

Translation and validation of the German version of the FACE-Q paralysis module in adult patients with unilateral peripheral facial palsy

The aim was to develop and validate a German version of the FACE-Q paralysis module, a patient-reported outcome measure to assess health-related quality of life in adult patients with unilateral facial palsy. The FACE-Q craniofacial questionnaire, which includes the paralysis module, was translated. 213 patients with facial palsy completed the German FACE-Q paralysis along with the established FDI and FaCE questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between the different FACE-Q domains and patient and therapy characteristics. The FACE-Q scales had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha all > 0.6). High correlations were found between the FACE-Q and the FDI and FaCE (mean rho = 0.5), as well as within the FACE-Q (mean rho = 0.522). Unifactorial influences were found for all domains except Breathing (all p < 0.05). Multivariate independent predictors were found for some FACE-Q domains. Most influential predictors (> 8 subdomains): Patients who received physical therapy scored lower in ten subdomains than those who did not (all p < 0.05). Patients who had surgery scored lower in nine subdomains than patients without surgery (all p < 0.05). The German version of the FACE-Q Paralysis Module can now be used as a patient-reported outcome instrument in adult patients with facial nerve palsy.

Dangers and therapeutic difficulties of intracranial hemangioma in infants: A CARE case report

IntroductionDescription of neurological complications induced by intracranial hemangioma in infants and by the initiation of beta-blocker treatment (propranolol). ObservationA 2-month-old infant was referred for grade 5 non-congenital unilateral peripheral facial palsy. Work-up revealed ipsilateral profound hearing loss and two intracranial hemangiomas: one in the ipsilateral internal auditory canal (IAC), the other in the cerebellum opposite the nodule of vermis. Initial treatment with a beta-blocker (propranolol 1mg/kg/day for 1month, then 3mg/kg/day) resulted in disappearance of symptoms and regression of lesions within 8weeks. At 20months after introduction of maintenance therapy (propranolol 3mg/kg/day), two asthma attacks occurred, leading to initiation of fluticasone and continuation of the beta-blocker. Thirty months after discontinuation of treatment, no further progression was noted. DiscussionUnilateral facial palsy in an infant suggests a number of diagnoses. MRI revealed IAC hemangioma. The choice of dosage and duration of treatment was based on a review of the literature and a strategy defined in multidisciplinary consultation.

Case Report: Bell’s palsy: a neurological manifestation of COVID-19 infection

Background Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the causative agent of the most recent pandemic that hit the globe and has been the cause of a vast range of symptoms, including neurological symptoms. Bell’s palsy is an acute peripheral facial paralysis commonly associated with viral infections. Case presentation This case report describes a patient with incidental COVID-19 infection that led to acute unilateral peripheral facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy. Our patient is a 35-year-old male with no known comorbidities who was presenting with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and was found to be positive for COVID-19. Soon after the onset of symptoms, he also developed right-sided facial weakness in association with his symptoms. A thorough examination revealed a peripheral neurological lesion. The diagnosis of Bell’s palsy secondary to COVID-19 virus infection was through the exclusion of other possible causes. Conclusions This case report suggests a potential link between Bell’s palsy and COVID-19, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the neurological manifestations of COVID-19. Further research is essential to determine the significance of neuropathies in COVID-19 and enhance treatment strategies.

BELL’S PALSY in a girl child: A rare case report with review of literature

Bell's Palsy is a unilateral acute peripheral facial nerve palsy of sudden onset and unknown aetiology. Bell's Palsy is common in adults but rarely seen in children. Inability to close the unilateral eye, drooping of corner of mouth, with drooling of saliva and unable to smile on affected side are few important clinical features of Bell's Palsy. Management of Bell's Palsy in children is basically symptomatic only. Multivitamins with light physiotherapy are all that are helpful to manage most of the Bell's Palsy cases in children. Overall, Bell's Palsy in children is self-limiting with early and complete recovery.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Differential Diagnosis of Unilateral Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy

(1) Background: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of parameters based on a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electrical stimulation (ES) in the differentiation between idiopathic and secondary facial palsy in a large cohort of patients. (2) Methods: Patients with unilateral facial palsy ≤7 days after symptom onset were included. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes were measured after stimulation of both facial nerves at (A) the internal acoustic meatus using TMS, CMAP-TMS, and (B) at the stylomastoid foramen using electrical stimulation, CMAP-ES. To express the degree of nerve dysfunction in the facial canal specifically, the amplitude reduction of the CMAP-TMS in relation to CMAP-ES was calculated and expressed as a percentage (amplitude reduction over the facial canal, ARFC). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ARFC as a marker to discriminate between patients with idiopathic and secondary facial palsy. (3) Results: Data from 498 patient records were analyzed. Idiopathic facial palsy was diagnosed in 424 patients, and secondary facial palsy in 74 patients. The area under the ROC curve for ARFC was 0.398. (4) Conclusions: The overall diagnostic accuracy of this method to differentiate secondary from idiopathic facial palsy is low.

Automatic grading of patients with a unilateral facial paralysis based on the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System - A deep learning study based on a convolutional neural network

PurposeIn order to assess the severity and the progression of a unilateral peripheral facial palsy the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) is a well-established grading system due to its clinical relevance, sensitivity, and robust measuring method. However, training is required in order to achieve a high inter-rater reliability. This study investigated the automated grading of facial palsy patients based on the SFGS using a convolutional neural network. MethodsA total of 116 patients with a unilateral peripheral facial palsy and 9 healthy subjects were recorded performing the Sunnybrook poses. A separate model was trained for each of the 13 elements of the SFGS and then used to calculate the Sunnybrook subscores and composite score. The performance of the automated grading system was compared to three clinicians experienced in the grading of a facial palsy. ResultsThe inter-rater reliability of the convolutional neural network was within the range of human observers, with an average intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.87 for the composite Sunnybrook score, 0.45 for the resting symmetry subscore, 0.89 for the symmetry of voluntary movement subscore, and 0.77 for the synkinesis subscore. ConclusionsThis study showed the potential of the automated SFGS to be implemented in a clinical setting. The automated grading system adhered to the original SFGS, which makes the implementation and interpretation of the automated grading more straightforward. The automated system can be implemented in numerous settings such as online consults in an e-Health environment, since the model used 2D images captured from a video recording.

Unilateral Isolated Peripheral Facial Paralysis as a Presenting Finding of COVID-19 in Two Previously Vaccinated Patients Case Reports

To report on two patients with COVID-19 after presenting with unilateral isolated peripheral facial palsy; both had previously double doses of vaccination against coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Two female patients presented with symptoms of progressive unilateral labial deviation, lagophthalmos, and drooling. Both patients had double doses of prophylactic COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech 6 months, and Sinovac/CoronaVac 12 months previously. The diagnosis of isolated unilateral peripheral facial paralysis was made, and short-term daily oral methylprednisolone (1mg/kg) was started for two weeks. A week later, both patients complained of various symptoms and signs of COVID-19. Acute facial nerve involvement is frequently associated with viral infections, and isolated peripheral facial paralysis may be the first and only presenting finding of COVID-19 infection even if the patients are vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sensory function in the faces of patients with facial palsy: A prospective observational study using quantitative sensory testing.

To determine the sensory function of both sides of the face in patients with acute or chronic facial palsy. Prospective observational study. The standardized quantitative sensory testing (QST) protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS), including thermal or mechanical stimuli (touch, pain, vibration, and pressure), was used to investigate somatosensory function in the faces of patients. A patient-reported outcome measures for the assessment of disturbed facial comfort or facial pain, the facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE) Facial Comfort Subscale, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) pain subdomain were used. A total of 29 patients (22 female, median age of 48 years; 7 acute palsy; 22 chronic palsy; House-Brackmann grade II-VI) were included. The median FaCE Facial Comfort Subscale score and the median SF-36 pain subdomain score were 50 and 100, respectively. Most patients had, at an individual level, a normal sensory function in all or most tests. On average, the frequencies for all parameters were not different between the paretic side and the contralateral side (all p > 0.05). Additionally, when z-scores were used to compare our patient sample with healthy controls from the DFNS reference database, there was no difference between the paretic side and the contralateral side (all p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no differences between patients with acute facial palsy and those with chronic facial palsy (all p > 0.05). The FaCE Facial Comfort Subscale score and the SF-36 pain subdomain score did not correlate with the QST parameters (all p > 0.05). Patients with acute or chronic unilateral peripheral facial palsy had normal sensory function on the paretic and contralateral sides compared with the reference values of healthy controls, and there was no significant difference between the sides. The numbness frequently felt in the affected hemiface is not related to a peripheral sensory disorder and is most likely a manifestation of an unsolved cortical somatosensory-motor mismatch.

Differentiating Bell's Palsy From Lyme-Related Facial Palsy.

To describe the etiology and clinical course of pediatric acute-onset unilateral peripheral facial palsy (FP), to define factors that distinguish Bell's palsy from Lyme-related FP (LRFP), and to determine if early corticosteroid use impacts facial strength recovery in Bell's palsy or LRFP. Retrospective cohort study of children 1 to 18 years old who received clinical care within our pediatric clinical care network (Lyme-endemic region) between 2013 and 2018 for acute-onset unilateral peripheral FP. The study included 306 children; 82 (27%) had LRFP, 209 (68%) had Bell's palsy, and 15 (5%) had FP of different etiology. Most children with LRFP presented between June and November (93%), and compared with Bell's palsy, more often had a preceding systemic prodrome, including fever, malaise, headache, myalgias, and/or arthralgias (55% vs 6%, P < .001). Neuroimaging and lumbar puncture did not add diagnostic value in isolated FP. Of the 226 children with Bell's palsy or LRFP with documented follow-up, FP was resolved in all but 1. There was no association between ultimate parent/clinician assessment of recovery and early corticosteroid use. Bell's palsy and LRFP were common causes of pediatric FP in our Lyme endemic region. Systemic prodrome and calendar month may help distinguish LRFP from Bell's palsy at FP onset, guiding antibiotic use. Early corticosteroid use did not impact our measures of recovery, although subtle abnormalities may not have been appreciated, and time to recovery could not be assessed. Future prospective studies using standardized assessment tools at regular follow-up intervals are necessary.

Serious Neurological Disorders That Mimic Bell’s Palsy: A 10-Year Experience

Background: Unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy may have a detectable cause (secondary facial nerve palsy) or may be idiopathic (Bell’s palsy). Facial palsy is attributable to various causes ranging from mild infection to severe neurological disorders. We investigated the prevalence and types of serious neurological disorders in patients with unilateral facial palsy.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with unilateral facial nerve palsy and identified patients diagnosed with facial palsy secondary to serious or life-threatening causes. We investigated the clinical characteristics, as well as electrodiagnostic and imaging findings in these patients.Results: Of 924 patients with facial palsy, 11 patients (1.2%) were diagnosed with the following serious neurological disorders: acoustic schwannoma in two patients, facial nerve schwannoma, glossopharyngeal schwannoma, meningioma, epidermoid cyst, parotid gland tumor, pontine infarct, skull base osteomyelitis, brain metastasis, and pachymeningitis.Conclusions: Although unilateral facial palsy is rarely associated with serious neurological disorders, early detection of the etiopathogenetic contributors is important for prompt initiation of optimal management. Therefore, clinicians should be mindful of disorders that can mimic Bell’s palsy.

Clinical and imaging features of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome that excludes secondary causes such as intracranial space-occupying lesion, hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular disease, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. If not be treated promptly and effectively, IIH can cause severe, permanent vision disability and intractable, disabling headache. This study aims to explore the clinical and image features for IIH, to help clinicians to understand this disease, increase the diagnose rate, and improve the outcomes of patients. We retrospectively analyzed 15 cases of IIH that were admitted to Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, during January 2015 to September 2020. The diagnosis of IIH was based on the updated modified Dandy criteria. We analyzed clinical data of patients and did statistical analysis, including age, gender, height, weight, medical history, physical examination, auxiliary examination, treatment and outcome. There were 10 females and 5 males. Female patients were 22 to 42 years old with median age of 39.5. Male patients were 27 to 52 years old with the median age of 44.0. The BMI was 24.14-34.17 (28.71±2.97) kg/m2. All patients had a BMI above the normal range (≥24 kg/m2), among them 10 cases (66.7%) were obese, and 5 cases (33.3%) were overweight. Eleven cases (73.3%) had headache, and 8 cases (53.3%) had persistent visual loss of different severity. Other symptoms included paroxysmal amaurosis (2 cases), tinnitus (3 cases), horizontal diplopia (2 cases), unilateral peripheral facial paralysis (2 cases), and unilateral blepharoptosis (1 case). Iron-deficiency anemia was found in 3 patients. One of them fully recovered from IIH after the correction of anemia. Other comorbidities included hypertension (8 cases) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (1 case). Fourteen patients assessed blood lipid profile, and all of them had abnormity. Nervous system signs included cervical rigidity (2 cases), limited abduction of eyeball (6 cases), peripheral facial paralysis (2 cases), and blepharoptosis (1 case). Cerebral spinal fluids of all patients had normal cell count, chemical component, Gram's stain, acid-fast stain, and India ink stain. Typical image signs suggesting that IIH could be seen in some patients, including empty sella (5 cases, 33.3%) or partially empty sella (4 cases, 26.7%), distension of perioptic subarachnoid space (3 cases, 20%), flattening of the posterior sclera (5 cases, 33.3%), intraocular protrusion of the optic papilla (7 cases, 46.7%), and enhancement of the optic papilla (2 cases, 13.3%). Ophthalmic exam showed all patients had bilateral papilledema. After diagnosed as IIH, all patients received individualized dehydration treatment to reduce the intracranial hypertension. Three patients received the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation. Most patients had good outcome after treatment. For 2 patients, visual impairment was poorly recovered. IIH primarily affects women of childbearing age who are overweight. The major hazard of IIH is the severe and permanent visual loss. Typical image signs have high specificity in IIH diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are significantly important to improve the outcomes of patients.

An objective, markerless videosystem for staging facial palsy

PurposeTo propose a new objective, video recording method for the classification of unilateral peripheral facial palsy (UPFP) that relies on mathematical algorithms allowing the software to recognize numerical points on the two sides of the face surface that would be indicative of facial nerve impairment without positioning of markers on the face.MethodsPatients with UPFP of different House–Brackmann (HB) degrees ranging from II to V were evaluated after video recording during two selected facial movements (forehead frowning and smiling) using a software trained to recognize the face points as numbers. Numerical parameters in millimeters were obtained as indicative values of the shifting of the face points, of the shift differences of the two face sides and the shifting ratio between the healthy (denominator) and the affected side (numerator), i.e., the asymmetry index for the two movements.ResultsFor each HB grade, specific asymmetry index ranges were identified with a positive correlation for shift differences and negative correlation for asymmetry indexes.ConclusionsThe use of the present objective system enabled the identification of numerical ranges of asymmetry between the healthy and the affected side that were consistent with the outcome from the subjective methods currently in use.

Botulinum Toxin Type A to Improve Facial Symmetry in Facial Palsy: A Practical Guideline and Clinical Experience.

Unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy jeopardizes quality of life, rendering psychological consequences such as low self-esteem, social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Among therapeutical approaches, use of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) on the nonparalyzed side has shown promising results and improvement of quality of life. Nevertheless, the correct technique is paramount, since over-injection of the muscles can result in lack of function, leading to a “paralyzed” appearance, and even worse, functional incompetence, which may cause greater distress to patients. Therefore, the objective of this article is to provide a practical guideline for botulinum toxin use in facial palsy. To this aim, adequate patient assessment, BoNT-A choice, injection plan and dosage, and injection techniques are covered.

Facial imaging and landmark detection technique for objective assessment of unilateral peripheral facial paralysis

ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose a hypothesis that the facial landmark detection methods constructed by a private UPFP facial dataset can perform better than the model on a healthy facial dataset in the task of UPFP facial landmark detection. For proving this hypothesis, a customized UPFP facial dataset with 68 facial landmark annotations was built. A state-of-the-art facial landmark detection method was employed on the three evaluation datasets to exploit and prove the hypothesis. The mean error of validation dataset is 3.15, 56% lower than 7.42 that of the healthy dataset, which proves the hypothesis is true.

Rehabilitation of unilateral peripheral facial paralysis in Guillain-Barré: a case study

ABSTRACT Facial palsies have multiple etiologies, but have in common the negative impact not only on the functions of the stomatognathic system but also on the self-image and emotional expression. This article aimed to describe a case study of unilateral peripheral facial palsy caused by the Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Hence, it shares assessment and intervention experiences related to this type of change and presents its functional results. It also highlights the important role of the interdisciplinary team (which comprised a physiatrist, physical therapist, speech-language-hearing therapist, occupational therapist, and nurses) to catalyze the patient’s evolution and the management of possible complications. Moreover, it is rather important to integrate the patients as members of the rehabilitation team, empowering them and giving them responsibility for the success of the intervention.

Unilateral Facial Palsy in an Adolescent with Guillain–Barré Syndrome

AbstractGuillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common and most severe acute demyelinating polyneuropathy with ∼0.8 to 1.1/100,000 incidence in pediatric population. Unlike adult patients, incidence of facial nerve involvement in children with GBS has not yet been determined possibly because of rare use of magnetic resonance imaging in childhood-onset GBS. In the present study, we describe a girl with GBS who presented unilateral peripheral facial palsy, confirmed by neuroimaging and electrophysiological evaluation. We suggest that both neuroimaging and detailed electrophysiological evaluation should be integrated into the work-up of such patients. We also wish to highlight the importance of evaluating cranial nerve involvement as a potential indicator of severity of disease.

Unilateral peripheral facial paralysis following vestibular schwannoma surgical removal: early evaluation of eating and drinking ability. A pilot study

Introduction: Unilateral peripheral facial palsy after vestibular neuroma surgery may cause miming, articulatory, communication and swallowing disorders, especially with liquids. The therapy ranges from no intervention to intensive treatment directly following onset or after a resting period of several months, when the nerve shows signs of recovery.Methods: The study is divided in two sequential steps. Patients involved in the first phase can volunteer for the second phase. In the first phase the perceived impairment was measured through a self-assessment questionnaire, the ‘Facial Disability Index’ (FDI). Other five questions were added to the FDI to better understand the perceived impairment of oral functions. In this second phase of the study, three clinical follow-ups were conducted by two Speech and Language Therapists during a 3-months period. During each session the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) Scale was used to assess the severity of facial palsy in terms of facial asymmetry at rest or in motion and presence of synkinesis. Each evaluation was recorded on videotape and scored. Moreover, patients were monitored and observed during the ingestion of solid and liquid foods to detect difficulties and compensatory behaviours.Results: The median values and interquartile ranges for Physical, Social and Oral functioning scales of the FDI questionnaire were 48 [40–52], 76 [72–80], 52 [32–56] respectively. The Physical scale seemed to be the most impaired, the Oral functioning is the one with the lower scores. Four patients of the first phase entered the second one. During the follow-ups, they all showed a reduction of the perceived impairment although there was no significant physical recovery, as the SFGS remain stable.Discussion: The study supports the importance of the FDI, as a disease-specific, self-report functional status instrument. The follow-ups seem to confirm that the severity of dysphagia and swallowing disorder does not correlate with the severity of the facial palsy. The present study suggests adding patient’s education to the first rehabilitation goals, to allow the patient to have a better understanding of his/her oral functioning, that is altered after surgery.

Restoration of orbicularis oculi muscle function with totally implanted artificial facial nerve

Objective: To investigate the effect of the artificial facial nerve on the restoration of orbicularis oculi muscle function for unilateral peripheral facial paralysis in rabbit. Methods: Artificial facial nerve was implanted into the rabbit with unilateral peripheral facial paralysis between January 2018 and May 2019. At different time points after operation, the affected orbicularis oculi muscles' stimulation closure threshold and the synchronism about the motion of the two sides of orbicularis oculi muscles were monitored. T test was used with SPSS 13.0 software. Results: There was no significant difference in the closure threshold of the orbicularis oculi muscle on the 7th and 28th days after artificial facial nerve implantation (P>0.05). The synchronism of the normal side eye closing movement triggered the affected orbicular oculi muscle movement with the artificial facial nerve was up 19/20 to 20/20 at different times. Conclusions: The artificial facial nerve system had the features of stable working condition and high synchronizing effect for stimulating movement. It could restore the closed eye function in animals with peripheral facial paralysis animals and had great clinical application prospects.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Presenting with Unilateral Peripheral Facial Palsy in an Infant

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Presenting with Unilateral Peripheral Facial Palsy in an Infant

Study on the method of microelectrodes implantation of artificial facial nerve prosthesis in closed mouth of orbicularis oris muscle in monkeys with facial nerve paralysis

Objective: To explore the optimal method of microelectrode implantation that can produce efficient mouth closure with microelectrode for orbicularis oris muscle (OOM) in rhesus monkeys with unilateral peripheral facial paralysis (UPFP) in order to provide basis for the research and development of artificial facial nerve prosthesis (AFNP). Methods: Right lateral peripheral facial paralysis model on four healthy rhesus monkeys (two males and two femles, aged 5-6 years, weighed 2.0-3.0 kg) were prepared. AFNP electric stimulation was used to induce closed-mouth reaction of the affected OOM with a one-way rectangular pulse, 50 Hz frequency and 0.2 ms pulse width in vitro. Around the affected lateral OOM, four stimulus electrodes implantation positions were selected at the upper lip (position A), the lower lip (position B), the connection with the corner of the mouth to the ipsilateral tragus (position C), and the horizontal line of the mouth angle (position D). According to the different implantation positions of three stimulation electrodes on the stimulation side of AFNP and the results of our previous study, six groups of microelectrode implantation methods were designed. In Group A, two microelectrodes were implanted at position A and one microelectrode was implanted at position B; in Group B, one microelectrode was implanted at position A, B and C respectively; in Group C, one microelectrode was implanted at position A and two microelectrodes were implanted at position B; in Group D, one microelectrode was implanted at position A, B and D respectively; in Group E, one microelectrode was implanted at position A, C and D respectively; in Group F, one microelectrode was implanted at position B, C and D respectively. The minimum stimulating current (threshold current) required for effective mouth closure were recorded. The threshold and peak current values were compared using one-way ANOVA and LSD-t multiple comparisons. Results: The microelectrodes of the AFNP stimulating side in Group E and F failed to induce a smooth mouth closure. The microelectrodes in A, B, C and D group induced smooth mouth closure. The threshold current value of OOM contraction on affected side in the Group A, B, C, and D were (1.35±0.05), (1.02±0.04), (1.40±0.04) and (1.10±0.02) mA, respectively (F=295.302, P<0.001), with the lowest value in Group B and there was significant difference between the current value in Group B and those in the other groups (all P<0.05). The peak current value of OOM contraction on affected side in the four groups were (3.95±0.02), (2.95±0.03), (3.99±0.05) and (3.51±0.01) mA, respectively (F=1 014.985, P<0.001). Group B showed the best lip-closure morphology observed with naked eyes. Conclusions: When three output microelectrode of the AFNP stimulated side are separately imbedded into the upper lip, the lower lip and the connection with the corner of the mouth to the ipsilateral tragus, AFNP can sufficiently induce closed-mouth reaction. These positions are suitable as priority options microelectrodes implantation positions for the microelectrodes of the AFNP stimulated side.