Prognosis in Bell's palsy based on symptoms, signs and laboratory data

A prognostic study was performed in 197 consecutive cases of Bell's palsy. The patients were investigated soon after onset, after one week, after one month and then every second month until total recovery or one year had elapsed. Case histories, clinical findings, and laboratory data were noted. Facial EMG, pure tone audiometry, stapedius reflex test and electrogustometry were performed. The healing time, quality of final healing and amount of sequelae were noted. All data were fed to a computer and correlations were calculated. The final degree of healing was well correlated to the initial EMG, the stapedial reflex test and the electrogustometry but also to the clinical evaluation of the degree of motility at the first visit. A combination of EMG, electrogustometry, stapedial reflex test and evaluation of lacrimation showed a high rate of prognostic value.