BELL’S PALSY BY: RANDY BONNELL BELL’S PALSY BY: RANDY BONNELL
Pathophysiology Pathophysiology Actual pathophysiology is unknown A popular theory is the nerve increases in diameter and becomes compressed as it courses through the temporal bone.
Frequency Frequency The incidence of Bell palsy in the United States is approximately 23 cases per 100,000 persons
Clinical manifestations There is usually an abrupt onset of numbness or a feeling of stiffness or drawing sensation of the face The face appears asymmetric, with drooping of the mouth and cheek Other symptoms may be…….
More Clinical manifestations Loss of taste Reduction of saliva (on affected side) Pain behind the ear Ringing in the ear or other hearing loss Difficulty swallowing
Race/Sex/Age Race/Sex/Age Incidence of Bell palsy appears to be slightly higher in persons of Japanese descent No difference exists in sex distribution in patients with Bell palsy The incidence is highest in persons aged years
Lab Studies Lab Studies No specific laboratory tests exist to confirm the diagnosis of Bell palsy
Medical management There is no specific therapy for bells palsy. Electrical stimulation or warm moist heat along the course of the nerve may be helpful
Nursing interventions Protection of the eye when the eyelid does not close Massage of the affected area is sometimes recommended Do face exercises ( closing eyes, puffing out cheeks, wrinkling the forehead) Keeping the affected eye moist
Prognosis Prognosis Prognostically, patients fall into 3 groups with roughly equal numbers in each group. Most patients develop an incomplete facial paralysis during the acute phase Of patients with Bell palsy, 85% achieve complete recovery
The groups are………. The groups are………. Group 1 regains complete recovery of facial motor function without sequelae Group 2 experiences incomplete recovery of facial motor function, but no cosmetic defects are apparent to the untrained eye Group 3 experiences permanent neurologic sequelae that are cosmetically and clinically apparent