Spontaneous Healing of Idiopathic Facial Paralysis: A Clinical and Electromyographic Study

Abstract

In 57 patients with idiopathic facial paralysis the course of spontaneous healing has been studied by electromyographic and clinical assessment. In 31 patients healing occurred without denervation, whereas 26 patients (45%) showed signs of denervation. In all 31 patients who were without any signs of denervation, healing was complete. Of the 26 patients who showed signs of denervation, good functional healing occurred in 21, whereas in 5 patients (9%) there were troublesome residuals. In the therapeutic results reported in the literature, spontaneous healing was only surpassed after treatment with ACTH. The influence of operations for decompression, on denervation and reinnervation has not been clearly elucidated; and reports on unexceptionable results for operated material are lacking.