Prognostic factors in patients with idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy): A prospective study

A prospective study was designed in order to objectively quantify the most important prognostic factors of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). Stepwise logistic regression was applied to data obtained from 178 patients evaluated between April 1994 and September 1995 at La Paz Hospital. Due to statistical requirements, the final number of cases analyzed was 124. In all cases, 28 variables were recorded. The 3 variables selected by the multivariate analysis were: age, maximal stimulation test and treatment employed (prednisone or acyclovir). With these data, a linear discriminant function was obtained with an overall accuracy of 70.8%. The correct prediction rate for complete facial recovery was 82.1% and for absence of complete facial recovery 50.0%.