Facial Paralysis, Bell's Palsy

Facial Paralysis
The facial palsy is an impairment of motor function of facial muscles. The nerve is reached the facial nerve for the seventh pair of cranial nerves.

There are two types of facial paralysis:

* Peripheral facial palsy;
* Central facial palsy.

If the facial nerve or its nucleus located at the brainstem level is reached it is a peripheral facial paralysis. In cases of injury above the nucleus, geniculate beam example, it is a central facial paralysis.


Peripheral Facial Paralysis
In most cases there is no case, this is called "acute idiopathic facial paralysis" or "Bell's palsy (Bell's palsy in English) or" facial paralysis from cold (as assumed initially cold-related).

Paralysis device may also be secondary to:

* A tumor compressing the nerve;
* Ear infections;
* A broken bone from the rock, injuring the nerve;
* Diabetes as part of a diabetic neuropathy;
* Zoster (part of a syndrome of Ramsey-Hunt).

Symptoms
The facial paralysis of central or peripheral type, is usually unilateral. The peripheral facial paralysis ipsilateral hemiface concern (that is to say the same coast) to the lesion. The central facial paralysis are limited to the territory and reach the lower hemiface contralateral to the lesion (because the nerve fibers decussate)

The functions of speaking, chewing, facial expression are affected.

Wrinkles fade side paralyzed.

Prolonged, it can have significant psychological consequences, especially for patients.


Diagnosis
In the central facial paralysis, the disease is limited to the lower face. The patient comes to close their eyes. Possibly there may be persistence of the display of lashes to eye closure ( "sign of eyelashes Soucques). This phenomenon can be found in the incomplete peripheral facial paralysis.

In the peripheral facial paralysis throughout hemiface is reached and the patient can not close our eyes. In a healthy closure of the eye is accompanied by a rotation of the eyeball. In the case of peripheral facial paralysis rotation of the eye is visible is the sign of Charles Bell.

In both types of paralysis, the mouth is deflected to the healthy side and the patient has difficulty showing his teeth.

Read also Trauma Brain Injury

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