Vestibular disorders in Bell's palsy: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the prevalence of vestibular abnormalities in individuals with Bell's palsy (BP) compared with a normal population and to correlate these findings with clinical evolution. METHOD: A prospective study involving 120 individuals submitted to computerized vector-electronystagmography (VENG) was conducted. The sample included 60 BP patients and 60 control subjects, matched for gender and age. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of the Bell's palsy patients had results consistent with deficient peripheral vestibular syndrome. All exams were normal in the control group (p< 0.001). No relationship between vestibular abnormalities and degree of palsy improvement was observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with Bell's palsy exhibited 25% vestibular abnormalities on vector- electronystagmography exams. Vestibular abnormalities were more frequent in patients with BP compared to normal control individuals. No relationship between vestibular abnormalities and degree of palsy improvement was observed.