Relation between Prognosis of Peripheral Facial Palsy and Blink Reflex: Retrospective Study

Objectives : This study was performed to find the relation between prognosis of peripheral facial palsy and blink reflex. Methods : Data was collected from patients who were admitted and treated by East-West Collaborative Treatment of Facial Palsy Center in Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from January 2012 to June 2013. Patients were screened by inclusion/exclusion criteria and 163 patients’ medical records were reviewed including blink reflex performed 14 ± 2 days after onset and House-Brackmann grade. Patients were divided into three groups, normal, delayed and absent group by blink reflex test. Trends of each recovery rate to House-Brackmann grade II and I depending on three group were analyzed at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after onset using Linear by linear association. Results : At 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after onset, both recovery rate to HouseBrackmann grade II and I had a tendency to be decreased statistically significantly in order of normal, delayed and absent group. Conclusions : We could find feasibility of blink reflex as a prognostic factor of peripheral facial palsy. Further study will be necessary.