ENG findings in patients with Bell's palsy. Relationship between visual suppression and clinical course.

Electronystagmography (ENG) is known to be a useful method for the evaluation of vestibular disorders. We tested 40 Bell's palsy patients who visited our clinic within 3 weeks after the onset of paralysis with ENG. Regarding the ENG findings and facial nerve damage, there were no correlations between the severity of paralysis in the initial period and the degree of paralysis recovery and existence of spontaneous, positional and positioning nystagmus. Patients with CP had a significantly severe paralysis in the initial period, but then showed varying degrees of recovery from the paralysis. Appearance of DP was not dependent upon the severity of facial paralysis in the initial period or the degree of paralysis recovery. Patients without visual suppression had a more severe paralysis in the initial period and a poor paralysis recovery at 3 months after the onset of paralysis.