[Bell's palsy (prevention and treatment)]

The effectiveness of a variety of the most popular methods used for treatment Bell's paralysis is analyzed on a great number (1168 patients) of cases. It has been found that the results of the treatment are predetermined primarily by the gravity of the facial nerve affection. No convincing dependence of the treatment effect on the disease etiology was noted, except cases of Bell's paralysis of vascular etiology, the outcome of which was worse. A less favourable outcome was also observed in patients over 60 years of age and in cases of paralysis relapses. Of the methods of treating Bell's paralysis tested by the authors it was early use of perineural injections of hydrocortisone and novocaine in combination with the traditional methods (etiotropic, resorptive, and restorative means, electrotherapy, exercises) that proved to be the most efficacious. On the basis of the follow-up study of 676 patients recommendations on the treatment of residual phenomena of Bell's paralysis and on preventing the latter's relapses are given.