Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pftt2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-05T19:18:45.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Peripheral nerve involvement in acute Bell's palsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

F. Abdel-Baki*
Affiliation:
Alexandria, Egypt
H. Moghazi
Affiliation:
Alexandria, Egypt
A. Eassa
Affiliation:
Alexandria, Egypt
F. Talaat
Affiliation:
Alexandria, Egypt
*
Dr. F. Abdel Baki, M.D., Ear, Nose & Throat Department, Alexandria Medical School, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Motor nerve conduction studies were carried out on the ipsilateral and contralateral ulnar nerves (arm and forearm segments) in 20 patients presenting with unilateral acute Bell's palsy. In seven of these cases (35%), there was motor conduction delay in one or more segments of the ulnar nerve. The present study confirms the hypothesis that Bell's palsy has a viral or autoimmune aetiology resulting in a generalized polyneuropathy or mononeuritis multiplex. Paralysis is clinically more manifest in the facial nerve than other motor nerves; this is because of the peculiar anatomical course of the facial nerve inside a bony canal.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adour, K. and Hetzler, D. (1984) Current medical treatment for facial palsy. American Journal of Otology, 5: 499503.Google ScholarPubMed
Chaco, J. (1973) Subclinical peripheral nerve involvement in unilateral Bell's palsy. American Journal of Physical Medicine, 52: 195197.Google ScholarPubMed
Djupesland, G., Degre, M., Stein, R. and Skredo, S. (1982) Acute peripheral facial palsy: Part of a cranial polyneuropathy. Disorders of the facial nerve, Graham, M., House, W. (ed.). Raven Press, New York, pp. 189.Google Scholar
Johnson, E. (1980) Ulnar nerve conduction. In: Practical Elec-tromyography. Baltimore London and Wilkins Co.Google Scholar
Leibouitz, U. (1966) Bell's palsy. Two disease entities. Neurology, 16: 11051109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mavor, H. and Librnan, I. (1962) Motor nerve conduction velocity measurement as diagnostic tool. Neurology, 12: 733744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McQuillen, M. P. and Gorin, F. J. (1969) Serial ulnar nerve conduction velocity measurements in normal subjects. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, 32: 144148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rose, C. (1979) Clinical Neuroimmunology. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Safman, B. L. (1971) Bilateral pathology in Bell's palsy. Archives of Otolaryngology, 93: 5557.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saunders, W. H. (1963) Viral infections and cranial nerve paralysis. Archives of Otolaryngology, 78: 8590.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yeangell, W., Jefferey, R. M., and Tonothy, D. (1983) Axillary F. central latency. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 64:Google Scholar