Hostname: page-component-77f85d65b8-6c7dr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-03-28T08:13:37.675Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Clinical features and management of facial nerve paralysis in children: analysis of 24 cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2009

H E Cha ,
M K Baek ,
J H Yoon ,
B K Yoon ,
M J Kim  and
J H Lee
H E Cha
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
M K Baek
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
J H Yoon
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
B K Yoon
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
M J Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
J H Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
*
Address for correspondence: Ju Hyoung Lee, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University, 1198, Guwol 1(il)-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon 405-760, Republic of Korea. E-mail: febent@gilhospital.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate the causes, treatment modalities and recovery rate of paediatric facial nerve paralysis.

Materials and methods:

We analysed 24 cases of paediatric facial nerve paralysis diagnosed in the otolaryngology department of Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2001 and June 2006.

Results:

The most common cause was idiopathic palsy (16 cases, 66.7 per cent). The most common degree of facial nerve paralysis on first presentation was House–Brackmann grade IV (15 of 24 cases). All cases were treated with steroids. One of the 24 cases was also treated surgically with facial nerve decompression. Twenty-two cases (91.6 per cent) recovered to House–Brackmann grade I or II over the six-month follow-up period.

Conclusion:

Facial nerve paralysis in children can generally be successfully treated with conservative measures. However, in cases associated with trauma, radiological investigation is required for further evaluation and treatment.

Keywords

Facial ParalysisBell's PalsyTemporal BoneChild

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 4 , April 2010 , pp. 402 - 406
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1 May, M. The Facial Nerve. New York: Thieme, 1986;63–74, 421–40, 549–59Google Scholar
2 Jonkees, LBW. On peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Arch Otolaryngol 1972;95:315–23Google Scholar
3 Hughes, GB. Practical management of Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1990;102:658–63CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Dickins, JR, Smith, JT, Graham, SS. Herpes zoster oticus: treatment with intravenous acyclovir. Laryngoscope 1988;98:776–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Salman, MS, MacGregor, DL. Should children with Bell's palsy be treated with corticosteroid? A systemic review. J Child Neurol 2001;16:565–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6 May, M, Fria, TJ, Blumenthal, F, Curtin, H. Facial paralysis in children: different diagnosis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1981;89:841–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Evans, AK, Licameli, G, Brietzke, S, Whittemore, K, Kenna, M. Pediatric facial nerve paralysis: patients, management and outcomes. Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 2005;69:1521–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Hong, CK, Byun, JY, Yeo, SG, Cha, CI, Park, MS. Clinical analysis of facial palsy in child. Korean Journal Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery 2007;50:102–7Google Scholar
9 Park, CW, Ahn, KS, Choi, SJ, Muhn, DS. A clinical study of facial nerve paralysis. Korean Journal Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery 1998;41:430–5Google Scholar
10 Danielidis, V, Skevas, A, Van Cauwenberge, P, Vinck, B. A comparative study of age and degree of facial nerve recovery in patients with Bell's palsy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1999;256:520–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11 Engström, M, Berg, T, Stjernquist-Desatnik, A, Axelsson, S, Pitkäranta, A, Hultcrantz, M et al. Prednisolone and valaciclovir in Bell's palsy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet Neurol 2008;7:993–1000CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Sullivan, FM, Swan, IRC, Donnan, PT, Morrison, JM, Smith, BH, McKinstry, B et al. Early treatment with prednisolone or acyclovir in Bell's palsy. N Engl J Med 2007;357:1598–607CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13 Adour, KK, Byl, FM, Hilsinger, RL Jr, Kahn, ZM, Sheldon, MI. The true nature of Bell's palsy: analysis of 1,000 consecutive patients. Laryngoscope 1978;88:787–801CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14 May, M, Wette, R, Hardin, WB Jr, Sullivan, J. The use of steroids in Bell's palsy: a prospective controlled study. Laryngoscope 1976;86:1111–22CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15 Fisch, U. Total facial nerve decompression and electroneurography. In: Silverstein, H, Norrell, H, eds. Neurological Surgery of the Ear. Birmingham, Alabama: Aesculapius Publishing, 1977;21–33Google Scholar
16 Furuta, Y, Ohtani, F, Aizawa, H, Fukuda, S, Kawabata, H, Bergstrom, T. Varicella-zoster virus reactivation is an important cause of acute peripheral facial paralysis in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005;24:97–101CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Hato, N, Kisaki, H, Honda, N, Gyo, K, Murakami, S, Yanagihara, N. Ramsay Hunt syndrome in children. Ann Neurol 2000;48:254–63.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18 Makeham, TP, Croxson, GR, Coulson, S. Infective causes of facial nerve paralysis. Otol Neurotol 2007;28:100–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19 Ulug, T, Arif Ulubil, S. Management of facial paralysis in temporal bone fractures: a prospective study analyzing 11 operated fractures. Am J Otolaryngol 2005;26:230–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20 Yeoh, TL, Mahmud, R, Saim, L. Surgical intervention in traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Med J Malaysia 2003;58:432–6Google ScholarPubMed