The Inter-Relation of Objective Assessment of The Bell’s Palsy with House-Brackmann Score: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Bell’s palsy is the most common acute peripheral mononeuropathy, which leads to the partial or complete inability to voluntary movement of the facial muscles on the affected side of the face. The study aimed to evaluate the objective assessment of the Bell’s palsy with House-Brackmann score. Methods: This Observational, Prospective study was to be conducted at tertiary care hospital among from June 2022 to September 2022 on 11 patients diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. A patient’s history includes age, sex, and clinical features. Assessments include facial nerve grading system such as House-Brackmann score, which was used to grade the facial nerve severity. Results: Out of 11 patients, 7 patients of Bell’s Palsy (63%) were reported with Grade IV of House- Brackmann score. The remaining patients were scored under Grade III and Grade V. Patients of age group from 9 to 75 were taken. Among them, age group of 9-40 years were 45% and 40- 80 years were 55%. The result shows that Grade IV is predominant over others, male and elder patients are leading over female and middle- aged patients. 63.7% patient’s clinical features were come under Grade IV of House- Brackmann score. 27.2% of patients had an increased risk of hypertension, 18.1% had Diabetes Mellitus, 18.1% had past history of CVA, 9% had past history of Seizure, and known history of Bell ’s palsy. Conclusion: Using the House-Brackmann grading system, the severity of the patient presenting with Bell’s palsy could be reliably predicted.