Evaluation of facial nerve decompression for Bell’s palsy / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To evaluate facial nerve decompression for Bell’s paralysis. METHODS The reports of facial nerve decompression for Bell’s paralysis were searched in PubMed and CHKD(China hospital knowledge database). Then an include criteria was made, and all the cases included were analyzed all together. The efficiency of different kinds of decompressions and time was discussed, while the steroid therapy was used as the control. RESULTS Five articles were include after search, in these reports there were 147 patients treated by surgery and 105 patients by steroid. The general rate of complete facial nerve recovery by decompression was 57.10 %, and 48.90 % by steroid therapy. The rate of complete recovery of facial nerve was 90.70 % if all segment decompression was done within 14 days after facial nerve paralysis, and it will decrease to 25.00 % if the surgery was done during 15 to 30 days after facial nerve paralysis. If the decompression was done during 15-30 days after facial nerve paralysis, the general recovery rate of mastoid and horizontal segment decompression was 45.70 %, but the all segments decompression was 25.00%. CONCLUSION Facial nerve decompression should be done within 14 days after facial nerve paralysis, the surgery done after 14 days will not improve facial nerve recovery. Till now there are no evidence can prove that all segment decompression be better than mastoid and horizontal segment decompression for Bell's palsy.