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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Facial nerve palsy: An early sign of COVID-19
Michael Somero1, Elisa Akagi2, Ashish Bhargava3
1MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Ascension St. John Hospital, 19251 Mack Ave, Suite 333 Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236, USA.
Introduction:
Bell's palsy is a peripheral lower motor neuron (LMN) facial nerve palsy, characterized by the acute onset (72 hours or less) of unilateral peripheral facial paresis without other neurologic signs. Bell's palsy has been described at three clinical junctures of COVID-19 infection: as the unique initial signal of COVID-19, as an accompanying feature during the acute phase of COVID-19 when respiratory and systemic symptoms predominate, or during the recuperative phase beginning 2-3 weeks after resolution of respiratory and systemic covid symptoms.
Case Report:
We present a unique case of a COVID-19-related facial nerve palsy that occurred 3 weeks prior to the onset of pneumonia caused by COVID-19.
Conclusions:
This case report suggests an association between early COVID-19 presenting as facial nerve palsy and alerts physicians about the ways in which COVID-19 may cause this phenomenon.
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