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Updated: May 20, 2026

Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral peripheral facial palsy
D M Oosterveer1, C P Bénit, E L L M de Schryver
1Sophia Rehabilitation Centre, Delft, The Netherlands. dmoosterveer@hotmail.com
Objective:
To describe the differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral peripheral facial palsy.
Method:
Case report and literature review.
Results:
Two patients with recurrent, alternating, peripheral facial palsy are described. In both patients, additional investigation was performed to search for a specific diagnosis. In the first patient, only a positive family history was found, indicating a possible familial susceptibility. In the other patient, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were identified as risk factors.
Conclusion:
There is an important and extensive differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral facial palsy. However, in a large proportion of patients the cause remains unknown.
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