The prognostic value of the stapedius reflex in peripheral facial palsy.

Stapedius reflex can provide useful prognostic information in FPs when the middle ear is normal. Its preservation may have a favorable significance in partial FP and Bell's palsy. Its loss, even though less reliable, can also have some value as an indicator for a poor prognosis in patients with total and herpes zoster FPs. Most importantly, our findings have shown that the SR alone is not sufficient to be of prognostic value, but is useful if combined with other clinical parameters and electrical responses.