J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2007 Nov;15(2):162-169.

Prognostic Value of Electrophysiologic Tests in Children with Facial Nerve Palsy

• Hong EH
• Kim JM
• Kwon SH

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to evaluate the value of electrophysiologic tests for determining prognosis in children with facial nerve palsy.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 37 children diagnosed as the facial nerve palsy at the pediatric neurology clinic, Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2007.
RESULTS
A total of thirty seven children were involved in the study(male to female 21:16, and the mean age 87.5 months). Among those twenty one had electrophysiologic tests. As compared with the normal values, the amplitude decreased by 54.5%(0.6+/-0.5 mV) and the latency was prolonged by 11.0%(3.6+/-0.5 msec) in electroneurography(ENoG). Early response(R1) was absent in 15 out of 21(71.4%) and ipsilateral response(R2) was absent in 19 children(90.5%). As compared with the children who had the decrease of amplitude 90% or less in ENoG, the children with the decrease of amplitude greater than 90% showed poor recovery(100% vs 60%, P<0.05) and longer duration of follow-up(43.7+/-30.0 days vs 184.00+/-196.8 days, P<0.05). All children who had R1 and R2 responses in the Blink test were completely recovered from the illness, but they were not statistically different from the other groups.
CONCLUSION
Decrease of amplitude in ENoG and responsiveness in the Blink test can be important prognostic determinants in children with facial nerve palsy, but further studies are needed.

Keyword

Facial nerve palsy; Electroneurography; Blink test

MeSH Terms

Child*
Facial Nerve*
Female
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Humans
Neurology
Paralysis*
Prognosis
Reference Values
Retrospective Studies