bell's palsy

Question 1

UMN or LMN bells palsy

Answer 1

LMN

Question 2

what is bells palsy

Answer 2

acute, unilateral, idiopathic, facial nerve paralysis.

Question 3

who does it affect more bells

Answer 3

20-40 years and the condition is

more common in pregnant women and diabetics

Question 4

features of bells

Answer 4

lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy - forehead affected*

patients may also notice post-auricular pain (may precede paralysis), altered taste, dry eyes, hyperacusis

Question 5

Tx for bells

complication

Answer 5

recommended that prednisolone 1mg/kg for 10 days should be prescribed for patients within 72 hours of onset of Bell’s palsy.

Adding in aciclovir gives no additional benefit

eye care is important - prescription of artificial tears and eye lubricants should be considered

axonal degeneration

Question 6

facial nerve supply

Answer 6

face: muscles of facial expression
ear: nerve to stapedius
taste: supplies anterior two-thirds of tongue
tear: parasympathetic fibres to lacrimal glands, also salivary glands

Question 7

LMN unilater FN palsy causes

Answer 7

Bell's palsy
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (due to herpes zoster)
acoustic neuroma
parotid tumours
HIV
multiple sclerosis*
diabetes mellitus

Question 8

3 branches of the facial nerve

Answer 8

1. greater petrosal nerve
2. nerve to stapedius
3. chorda tympani