Recovery and Recurrence in Bell's Palsy: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparative Study Across ENT, Pain Medicine, and Traditional Korean Medicine.

Background and

Objectives

Bell's palsy, characterized by acute idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, exhibits variable recovery outcomes influenced by treatment timing, modality, and patient comorbidities. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of corticosteroid-based treatment (Ear, Nose, and Throat [ENT]), nerve blocks/physical therapy (Pain Medicine), and acupuncture/herbal medicine (Traditional Korean Medicine [KM]) and identify predictors of recovery and recurrence. This retrospective cohort study leverages South Korea's pluralistic healthcare system, where patients choose specialties, to provide novel insights into departmental treatment outcomes. Materials and

Methods

We analyzed 600 patients treated within 72 h of Bell's palsy onset (2010-2024) at Wonkwang University Hospital, South Korea, using propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1:1) for age, sex, comorbidities, and initial House-Brackmann (HB) grade. The primary outcome was complete recovery (HB grade I) at 6 months; secondary outcomes included recovery time, recurrence, complications, and patient satisfaction. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors.

Results

The ENT group achieved the highest complete recovery rate (87.5%, phi = 0.18) versus Pain Medicine (74.0%) and KM (69.5%) (p < 0.001), with the shortest recovery time (4 weeks, Cohen's d = 0.65 vs. KM). Synkinesis was lowest in the ENT group (6.0%). ENT treatment (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.29-2.37) and early corticosteroid application (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.42-2.68) predicted recovery. Hypertension (OR: 4.40), hyperlipidemia (OR: 8.20), and diabetes (OR: 1.40) increased recurrence risk. Subgroup analyses showed that ENT treatment was most effective for severe cases (HB grade IV: 90% recovery vs. 65% in KM, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Corticosteroid-based treatment (ENT) yielded superior recovery outcomes. Comorbidity management is critical for recurrence prevention. Early ENT referral and integrated care models are recommended to optimize outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.