[The blink reflex in the electrophysiologic exploration of Bell's palsy and its prognostic value]

Conventional electrophysiology of the facial nerve gives only information about the functional condition of its extracranial segment. The blink-reflex triggered for the electric stimulation of supraorbital nerve allows the study of the whole nerve path, even the intraosteal, where the great majority of its pathology settles. We have realized this tests in 43 Bell's palsy cases (at the beginning of the paralysis and three weeks later) and correlated the results with the clinic course, in order to set up the pronostic value of the procedure. The cases with shorter tendency of blink reflex along the three first week have a better outcome.