Bell's palsy

Question 1

Treatment of Bell’s palsy

Answer 1

oral prednisone steroids - can expidite the speed and rate of full recovery

Question 2

how to tell the difference between peripheral facial nerve vs a stroke?

Answer 2

unilateral facial weakness of both upper and lower parts of the face are characteristic central nervous system process (stroke) will spare the upper facial muscles (so still can raise forehead)

Question 3

classic Bell’s palsy symptoms

Answer 3

change in taste, hyperacusus (intolerance of loud sounds due to the stapedius muscle) ipsilateral pain and paresthesia without objective sensory loss.

Question 4

supranuclear palsy:

Answer 4

stroke

supranuclear palsy = upper motor neuron palsy

clinically upper face is spared

Question 5

infranuclear palsy

Answer 5

infranuclear palsy = lower motor or peripheral causes

Paralysis of one side of face:

bell’s palsy

acoustic neuroma

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (varicella zoster)

Guillane Barre

Lyme Dx

Sarcoidosis.

Question 6

Lower motor neuron palsy

Answer 6

reflexes decreased

decreased muscle tone

flaccid paralysis

fasciculations.

Question 7

upper motor neuron lesion characteristics

Answer 7

increased reflexes

glasp knife rigidity

spastic paralysis

increased muscle tone

no fasciculations