Abstract
Electroneuronography (ENoG) of the orbicularis oris muscle can predict the prognosis of acute peripheral facial palsy. There have been few studies of ENoG of the orbicularis oculi muscle to predict the prognosis of acute peripheral facial palsy. We studied the relationships between ENoGs of the orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi muscles and the outcome of acute peripheral facial palsy to clarify whether ENoG could predict the prognosis of acute facial palsy shortly after the onset. ENoG and facial palsy score were evaluated in 25 patients with acute facial palsy after initial treatment. They were followed until complete recovery. The ENoG value, defined as percentage of the amplitude of the affected side divided by that of the contralateral side of each muscle, decreased after the onset. It took the lowest value (min-ENoG value) was observed at a mean of 12 days after the onset. There were significant negative correlations between min-ENoG and the number of days until full recovery (orbicularis oris r=-0.67,P=0.0003;orbicularis oculi r=-0.50,P=0.009).Since the amplitude of the ENoG of the orbicularis oris muscle was larger than that of orbicularis oculi muscle, min-ENoG value of the orbicularis oris muscle was easier to calculate than that of the orbicularis oculi muscle. We conclude that the ENoG of the orbicularis oris muscle, rather than orbicularis oculi muscle, is useful to predict the prognosis of acute peripheral facial palsy.
