Interní Med. 2010; 12(9): 445-447

Peripheral facial nerve palsy

prof.MUDr.Zdeněk Ambler, DrSc.

Neurologická klinika LF UK a FN v Plzni

The facial nerve is 7th cranial nerve. The larger portion comprises motor fibers and innervates muscles of the face. The smaller nervus

intermedius contains parasympathetic (secretory), sensory (taste) and somatosensory fibers. In a lesion of the facial nerve ipsilateral

paresis of mimic muscle develops. This should be distinguished from central mimic palsy that produces weakness only in lower half of

the face contralaterally. The most common cause of unilateral facial paralysis is Bell’s palsy – inflammatory mononeuritis. Other causes

include herpes zoster (Ramsay Hunt syndrome), Lyme borreliosis, posttraumatic lesions in petrous bone fracture and also otitis, surgery

in middle ear, mastoidectomy and parotid gland. In the treatment of Bell’s palsy short-term corticosteroids are used but incomplete

lesions often recover spontaneously. Antiviral agents are indicated in zoster, in Bell’s palsy there is no general consensus on the use of

antiviral agents.

Kew words: facial nerve palsy, Bell’s palsy, zoster oticus, corticosteroids, antiviral agents.

Keywords: obrna lícního nervu, Bellova paréza, zoster oticus, kortikoidy, antivirotika

Published: October 1, 2010  Show citation