Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2013 Sep;6(3):135-139.

Agreement between the Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 and the House-Brackmann Grading System in Patients with Bell Palsy

• Lee HY
• Park MS
• Byun JY
• Chung JH
• Na SY
• Yeo SG

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We have analyzed the correlation between the House-Brackmann (HB) scale and Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 (FNGS 2.0) in patients with Bell palsy, and evaluated the usefulness of the new grading system.
METHODS
Sixty patients diagnosed with Bell palsy from May 2009 to December 2010 were evaluated using the HB scale and FNGS 2.0 scale during their initial visit, and after 3 and 6 weeks and 3 months.
RESULTS
The overall intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.908 (P=0.000) and the Spearman correlation coefficient (SCC) was 0.912 (P<0.05). ICC and SCC displayed differences over time, being 0.604 and 0.626, respectively, at first visit; 0.834 and 0.843, respectively, after 3 weeks; 0.844 and 0.848, respectively, after 6 weeks; and 0.808 and 0.793, respectively, after 3 months. There was a significant difference in full recovery, depending on the scale used (HB, P=0.000; FNGS 2.0, P<0.05). The exact agreements between regional assessment and FNGS 2.0 for the mouth, eyes, and brow were 72%, 63%, and 52%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
FNGS 2.0 shows moderate agreement with HB grading. Regional assessment, rather than HB grading, yields stricter evaluation, resulting in better prognosis and determination of grade.

Keyword

House-Brackmann scale; Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0; Bell palsy

MeSH Terms

Bell Palsy
Eye
Facial Nerve
Humans
Mouth
Prognosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Correlation between House-Brackmann grading Nerve Grading System 2.0 after complete evaluations

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