On standardised documentation of facial palsy

Abstract

To establish an acceptable and reliable standard for evaluation of facial palsy, the facial movement as well resting condition was recorded on a videotape and an analytical study was performed. Eight patients with intratemporal facial palsy of varying degrees served as subjects. The degree of facial palsy was assessed by twelve qualified otologic surgeons and estimated of on ten facial functional units, which were expressed as scores of five and three ratings The sum of the given rating scores of ten discrete funtional units was designated as a paralysis score. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean paralysis score between the two rating scales, however, assessment of the judges showed better consistency in three rating method than in five. Based on experimental evidence and clinical experience, this method of estimating the grade of facial paralysis using three rating scales proved clinically feasible and valuable. © 1977, The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved.