Prediction of the prognosis of Bell's palsy using multivariate analyses.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to establish more reliable formulae for predicting the prognosis for patients with Bell's palsy at initial examination.

PATIENTS: One hundred four consecutive patients with Bell's palsy whose facial movement was either completely recovered or unchanged for more than 6 months.

INTERVENTION: Diagnostic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate analyses were performed using the following variables: Age, House-Brackmann score (H-B), electroneuronography (ENoG), nerve excitability test (NET), blink reflex, and stapedial muscle reflex on initial examination.

RESULTS

Duration to maximal recovery can be predicted with the adjusted coefficient of 0.51 using H-B, ENoG, stapedial muscle reflex, and NET. Whether complete recovery would be achieved can be predicted with the Nagelkerke coefficient of determination of 0.72 using age, H-B, ENoG, and NET.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that the prognosis of patients who recovered early can be predicted more precisely; however, the prognosis of patients who recovered late and incomplete could not be predicted easily.