Open AccessPercutaneous facial nerve stimulation
Author(s) -
Jayita Poduval
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2395-7565
DOI - 10.31254/jmr.2015.1209
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous , palsy , facial nerve , facial paralysis , paralysis , physical examination , bell's palsy , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine
Facial nerve paralysis is a commonly encountered clinical entity. Bell’s palsy is the most frequently observed manifestation of facial paralysis, and is diagnosed and treated mainly on the basis of history and clinical examination. Some other cases of facial paralysis would however require more objective, intensive and reliable means of evaluation in order to facilitate optimum management. Method: When the diagnosis of facial paralysis is in doubt, electrodiagnostic tests are a useful method of evaluation. This paper discusses the technique by which these tests are performed using percutaneous facial nerve stimulation. It also discusses the method of interpretation of these test results. Conclusion: Though percutaneous facial nerve stimulation is a reliable and objective method of diagnosis, there are certain limitations to its use which must be borne in mind by the clinician.