THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION AND PROGNOSIS OF FACIAL PARALYSIS / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

On the basis of motor status of the frontalis musecle and the mouth corner 4 to 20 days after the onset, the degree and prognosis of facial paralysis of 218 cases were evaluated for 1～3 years. 44 cases belonged to neurapraxic type. In this type,visible motor recovery of frontalis and mouth corner was observed in 15 to 29 days after onset. Mild paralysis type (93 cases), in whom visible motor power of mouth corner appeared following the motor recovery of frontalis 14～20 days after onset, showed a total recovery in 24 to 40 days (84%). In moderate paralysis type, slight or absent visible motor recovery of frontalis was observed. Visible frontalis and mouth corner motor power appeared 20 days to 2 months after onset, with normal frontalis recovery in 42 cases.In 3 cases frontalis motor power recovered for 25% to 50%, and in 45 cases (67%) residual symptoms and complications were observed. Severe paralysis type consisted of 75% of patients, 36 patients, in whom the frontalis did not completely recover and 92% had residual symptoms and complications.Therefore, according to motor status of the frontalis and mouth corner, facial paralysis could be classified in predicting the prognosis.