Review of Facial Nerve Palsy at a Tertiary Hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Facial nerve palsy is cosmetically distressing and functionally disabling, and may result from several causes, such as trauma, neoplasm, infections or genetics. Purpose: This study reviewed sociodemographic distributions, common types and causes of facial nerve palsy, and cases referred for Physiotherapy between January, 2003 and December, 2012 at a tertiary hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Method: Retrospective study of facial nerve palsy was conducted at the tertiary hospital. Folders of patients diagnosed with facial nerve palsy and managed at the hospital were selected and reviewed using purposive sampling technique. Patients' information was extracted from the folders and descriptive statistics was utilized to summarize the collected data. Results: A total of 48 folders of patients with facial nerve palsy from January 2003 to December 2012 were retrieved. Age range and mean age of the patients were 3-65 years and 31.02±12.3 years respectively. Age group of 23-32 years was in majority (37.5%) and male patients were more in number (64.6%) than the females. Lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy (56.2%) predominated over upper motor neuron type. Twenty (41.7%) cases were referred for physiotherapy. Conclusion: Although facial nerve palsy from our study is not common in this sub-region, awareness campaign is needed to enlighten the public about this ailing condition.

Patients’ Profile Regarding Physiatric Management of Facial Palsy in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…Lamina S et al 10 found that males(56.2%) were higher incidence of FP than females(43.8%). Stanley M et al 11 showed male patients were more in number (64.6%) than the females.…”

“…Stanley M et al 11 showed Lower motor neuron FNP (56.2%) predominated over upper motor neuron type (43.8%).…”

“…Lamina S et al 10 showed the incidence of FP which was highest among business men (31.6%) followed by housewives (22.6%) and least among medical personnel (0.3%). Stanley M et al 11 showed in occupational group, case notes of civil servants were in preponderance (27.1%) and others were housewife (20.8%), driver (4.2%), farmer (2.1%), trader (18.8%), student (20.8%), none(6.2%).…”

“…Lamina S et al 10 showed that the middle age subcategory (20-34yrs) had the highest incidence of FP (40.3%), while the old-age category (65yrs and above) had the least (3.7%) incidence. Stanley M et al 11 showed the case notes of the patients in the age group of 23-32 years were in majority (37.5%).…”

A clinical study of etiology and management of Bell's palsy in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…The study showed that the mean age of onset of Bell's palsy was 43.5 years in male and 40.5 years in females. Stanley M et al; have shown that patients from age group 23 -32 were most commonly involved with facial palsy [13] . A similar study has shown that the middle age group 20 -34 years had the highest incidence of facial palsy and older age group had the least incidence of facial palsy [14] .…”