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Quantitative evaluation of oral function in acute and recovery phase of idiopathic facial palsy; a preliminary controlled study
Author(s) -
Kato Y.,
Kamo H.,
Kobayashi A.,
Abe S.,
OkadaOgawa A.,
Noma N.,
Kukimoto N.,
Omori H.,
Nakazato H.,
Kishi H.,
Ikeda M.,
Imamura Y.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.12118
Subject(s) - medicine , palsy , masticatory force , facial paralysis , surgery , dentistry , alternative medicine , pathology
Objectives Patients with peripheral facial palsy frequently complain of fluid leakage and food retention during meals. We investigated oral function during eating in adults with peripheral facial palsy. Design A prospective two‐phase controlled observational study. Setting Data were collected at the ENT clinic in N ihon U niversity I tabashi H ospital (patients) and N ihon U niversity D ental H ospital (controls) between S eptember 2009 and A ugust 2011 and analysed at the D epartment of O ral D iagnostic S ciences in N ihon U niversity S chool of D entistry. Participants Fourteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 14 controls completed S tudy 1. Sixteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 16 controls completed S tudy 2. Main outcome measures In S tudy 1, oral vestibular cleansing capability was assessed by measuring the amount of rice remaining in the oral vestibule after mastication. In S tudy 2, masticatory efficiency was evaluated by measuring glucose eluted from gummy jelly during chewing. These oral functions were observed at the first visit and final visit (after patients with facial palsy had recovered). Results Oral vestibular cleansing capability at the first visit was significantly decreased by facial palsy ( P < 0.001 versus healthy volunteers and P < 0.001 versus contralateral side) but recovered as facial muscular function improved ( P = 0.034). There was a significant correlation between improvement in paralysis and decreased food retention ( r = −0.528, P = 0.010). At the first visit, masticatory efficiency on the affected side was significantly lower than that of controls ( P = 0.002) but had mostly recovered after resolution of facial palsy ( P = 0.033). Conclusions Oral functions were decreased by peripheral facial palsy. Oral vestibular cleansing capability was more significantly associated than masticatory efficiency with facial muscle function. Our data suggest that peripheral facial palsy impairs eating and worsens oral hygiene, which may result in oral disease.