Management of peripheral facial nerve palsy

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) may (secondary FNP) or may not have a detectable cause (Bell’s palsy). Three quarters of peripheral FNP are primary and one quarter secondary. The most prevalent causes of secondary FNP are systemic viral infections, trauma, surgery, diabetes, local infections, tumor, immunological disorders, or drugs. The diagnosis of FNP relies upon the presence of typical symptoms and signs, blood chemical investigations, cerebro-spinal-fluid-investigations, X-ray of the scull and mastoid, cerebral MRI, or nerve conduction studies. Bell’s palsy may be diagnosed after exclusion of all secondary causes, but causes of secondary FNP and Bell’s palsy may coexist. Treatment of secondary FNP is based on the therapy of the underlying disorder. Treatment of Bell’s palsy is controversial due to the lack of large, randomized, controlled, prospective studies. There are indications that steroids or antiviral agents are beneficial but also studies, which show no beneficial effect. Additional measures include eye protection, physiotherapy, acupuncture, botulinum toxin, or possibly surgery. Prognosis of Bell’s palsy is fair with complete recovery in about 80% of the cases, 15% experience some kind of permanent nerve damage and 5% remain with severe sequelae

Proximal neuropathies in patients with poststroke shoulder pain

Background Poststroke shoulder pain (PSSP) could be due to proximal neuropathy or upper trunk brachial plexus lesion. Aim The aim was to detect any electrophysiological abnormality in the proximal nerves supplying shoulder structures that could contribute to PSSP. Settings and design Cross-sectional study at institution: a university hospital, tertiary level of clinical care. Materials and methods Nerve conduction studies of the axillary, musculocutaneous, suprascapular, and lateral antebrachial nerves were done on both sides. In addition, electromyography of the deltoid, biceps brachii and infraspinatus on the hemiplegic side was performed on 30 stroke survivors with PSSP. Statistical analysis used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS ver.20). Description and analysis of the obtained data were done using appropriate tests. Results Axillary and musculocutaneous motor nerve latencies on the hemiplegic side were significantly prolonged compared with the normal side (P=0.012, 0.029, respectively). Moreover, axillary and suprascapular nerve amplitudes on the hemiplegic side were significantly lower than those on the normal side (P=0.008, 0.002, respectively). Twelve (40%) patients had electrophysiological abnormalities. Upper trunk brachial plexopathy was the most common abnormality which occurred in six (20%) patients. In addition, isolated axillary or suprascapular nerve lesion occurred at a similar frequency (10%). Conclusion Proximal nerve lesions are not uncommon in PSSP patients