Electrophysiological prognosis in facial paralysis

Electrical prognosis was evaluated in 79 patients with facial paralysis, of spontaneous (n = 43) or post-traumatic origin (n = 36). Three electrophysiological tests were employed jointly: detection, stimulation and stimulodetection. The patients were reviewed at least 1 year later, in order to appreciate the agreement between the electrical prognosis and the clinical outcome (satisfactory or not). Those patients with a favourable prognosis on electrical testing had in the majority of cases a satisfactory outcome. The accuracy of the prognosis was also better in cases of early examination (within 15 days) and partial paralysis.