Peripheral facial nerve palsy

Purpose To describe a rare cause of idiopathic peripheral facial nerve palsy

Methods review of patient records and literature search

Results A 32-year-old female patient presented to our ENT department with right-sided mimic muscle failure. Two days prior to presentation to our department, the patient had given birth. On the following day of delivery, she noted unilateral failure of her right side mimic musculature during video telephony. In terms of previous diseases, the patient had only Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Cranial nerve examination revealed only right peripheral facial nerve palsy with a House-Brackmann score III. Sonographic imaging of the parotid gland of the right side was without pathologic findings. Sound audiogram showed normacusis on both sides. Tympanometry, provocation nystagmus and positional testing, and other ENT examinations were also without pathologic findings. Serologic examination showed no evidence of viral or bacterial etiology. The patient was treated according to cortisone regimen in descending dosage.

Discussion The literature describes that the risk of developing peripheral facial nerve palsy during pregnancy is increased 3.3-fold. A therapy with corticosteroids as well as aciclovir can be considered. However, these applications are always "off-label". In women of childbearing age, pregnancy should be considered as a possible cause of peripheral facial nerve palsy.

Publication History

Article published online:
27 June 2023