Facial Nerve Palsy

Historically, Bell palsy was thought to be idiopathic facial nerve (peripheral seventh cranial nerve) palsy. However, facial nerve palsy is now considered a clinical syndrome with its own differential diagnosis. Only about half the cases of facial nerve palsy are idiopathic; therefore, the term "Bell palsy" is not always synonymous with idiopathic facial nerve palsy (1).

The presumed mechanism for what was previously thought to be idiopathic facial nerve palsy is swelling of the facial nerve due to an immune or viral disorder. Current evidence suggests that common viral causes are

• Herpes simplex virus infection (most common)

• Herpes zoster (possibly the second most common)

Other viral causes include SARS-CoV-2, coxsackievirus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and the Epstein-Barr, mumps, rubella, and influenza B viruses. The swollen nerve is maximally compressed as it passes through the labyrinthine portion of the facial canal, resulting in ischemia and paresis.

Various other disorders (eg, diabetes, Lyme disease, sarcoidosis) can cause facial nerve palsy. Lyme disease can cause facial nerve palsy that, unlike Bell palsy, may be bilateral. Particularly in people of African-American ancestry, sarcoidosis is a common cause of facial nerve palsy and may be bilateral.

The facial muscles are innervated peripherally (infranuclear innervation) by the ipsilateral seventh cranial nerve and centrally (supranuclear innervation) by the contralateral cerebral cortex. Central innervation is often bilateral for the upper face (eg, forehead muscles) and unilateral for the lower face. As a result, both central and peripheral lesions can paralyze the lower face. However, paralysis of the upper face is more likely due to peripheral lesions (facial nerve palsy) than to central lesions (eg, stroke).

Pain behind the ear often precedes facial paresis in idiopathic facial nerve palsy. Paresis, often with complete paralysis, develops within hours and is usually maximal within 48 to 72 hours.

Patients may report a numb or heavy feeling in the face. The affected side becomes flat and expressionless; the ability to wrinkle the forehead, blink, and grimace is limited or absent. In severe cases, the palpebral fissure widens and the eye does not close, often irritating the conjunctiva and drying the cornea.

Facial Nerve Palsy

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DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Sensory examination is normal, but the external auditory canal and a small patch behind the ear (over the mastoid) may be painful to the touch. If the nerve lesion is proximal to the geniculate ganglion, salivation, taste, and lacrimation may be impaired, and hyperacusis may be present.

• History and physical examination

• Testing for Lyme disease where the disease is endemic

• Chest x-ray or CT and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels to check for sarcoidosis

• MRI if onset was gradual or other neurologic deficits are present

• Other testing if indicated by clinical findings

Facial nerve palsy is diagnosed based on history and physical examination. There are no specific diagnostic tests for idiopathic facial nerve palsy.

Facial nerve palsy can be distinguished from a central facial nerve lesion (eg, due to hemispheric stroke or tumor), which causes weakness primarily of the lower face, sparing the forehead muscle and allowing patients to wrinkle their forehead, furrow their brow, and close their eyes tightly.

Idiopathic facial nerve palsy can usually be distinguished from other disorders that cause peripheral facial nerve palsies based on their characteristic symptoms, signs, and laboratory or radiologic findings; these disorders include the following:

• Herpes zoster oticus (geniculate herpes, Ramsay Hunt syndrome)

• Middle ear infections or mastoid infections

• Sarcoidosis

• Lyme disease

• Petrous bone fractures

• Carcinomatous or leukemic nerve invasion

• Chronic meningitis

• Cerebellopontine angle or glomus jugulare tumors

• Diabetes

Also, disorders that cause peripheral facial nerve palsy typically develop more slowly than idiopathic facial nerve palsy. Thus, if patients have any other neurologic symptoms or signs or if symptoms developed gradually, MRI should be done.

In idiopathic facial nerve palsy, MRI may show contrast enhancement of the facial nerve at or near the geniculate ganglion or along the entire course of the nerve. However, its enhancement may reflect other causes, such as meningeal tumor. If the paralysis progresses over weeks to months, the likelihood of a tumor (eg, most commonly schwannoma) compressing the facial nerve increases. MRI can also help exclude other structural disorders causing facial nerve palsy. CT, usually negative in Bell palsy, is done if a fracture is suspected or if MRI is not immediately available and stroke is possible.

In addition, acute and convalescent serologic tests for Lyme disease are done if patients have been in a geographic area where ticks and Lyme disease are endemic.

For all patients, a chest x-ray or CT is taken and serum ACE is measured to check for sarcoidosis. Blood tests are done to check for diabetes. Viral titers are not helpful.

• Protection for the cornea

• Glucocorticoids for idiopathic facial nerve palsy

Corneal drying must be prevented by frequent use of natural tears, isotonic saline, or methylcellulose drops and by intermittent use of tape or a patch to help close the eye, particularly during sleep. Tarsorrhaphy is occasionally required.Corneal drying must be prevented by frequent use of natural tears, isotonic saline, or methylcellulose drops and by intermittent use of tape or a patch to help close the eye, particularly during sleep. Tarsorrhaphy is occasionally required.

In idiopathic facial nerve palsy, glucocorticoids, ideally begun within 3 days of symptom onset, result in faster and more complete recovery (1, 2).

Antiviral drugs effective against herpes simplex virus provide no benefit (3).

In idiopathic facial nerve palsy, the extent of nerve damage determines outcome. If some function remains, full recovery typically occurs within several months. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography are done to help predict outcome. The likelihood of complete recovery after total paralysis is 90% if nerve branches in the face retain normal excitability to supramaximal electrical stimulation and is only about 20% if electrical excitability is absent.

Regrowth of nerve fibers may be misdirected, innervating lower facial muscles with periocular fibers and vice versa. The result is contraction of unexpected muscles during voluntary facial movements (synkinesia) or crocodile tears during salivation. Chronic disuse of the facial muscles may lead to contractures.