Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With Facial Palsy: A Scoping Review

Facial palsy in children and adolescents can impair facial expression, emotional communication, and social interaction, potentially leading to reduced quality of life (QoL). However, the extent of available research in this population remains unclear. A scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines to evaluate the current literature on QoL in children and adolescents with facial palsy and identify knowledge gaps. PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched in June 2024 using terms related to "facial palsy," "quality of life," and "pediatric." Studies were included if they reported quantitative QoL outcomes in patients aged 0 to 24 years with facial palsy. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Six studies met inclusion criteria, including 78 patients. QoL was assessed with instruments including the FaCE scale, FDI, EORTC QLQ-C30, and KINDL-R. Three of 4 surgical studies reported improved QoL after dynamic reanimation. One study found QoL decreased over time postoperatively. Lower QoL was reported in patients with permanent facial palsy and in children with Moebius syndrome, particularly in social domains. Facial palsy can reduce QoL in pediatric patients, but evidence is limited. There is a need for age-appropriate, validated outcome measures and further research on treatment impact.