RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Update on managing Bell’s palsy
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 53
OP 54
DO 10.1136/dtb.2008.06.0015
VO 46
IS 7
YR 2008
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/46/7/53.abstract
AB Each year in the UK, around 1 in 5,000 people develops Bell’s palsy – idiopathic unilateral lower motor neurone facial weakness of rapid onset.1 Of those who are not treated, about 16% end up with permanent moderate to severe weakness, which can result in facial dysfunction and disfigurement, and psychological difficulties.2–5 There has been longstanding controversy about what, if any, treatment should be given, with potential alternatives including corticosteroids, antiviral drugs, acupuncture and physiotherapy.6 We last reviewed this condition in 2006, indicating that “published trials on the efficacy of drug treatments have been poor and no firm conclusions can be drawn about the benefit of any single drug”, and “it is unclear what place, if any, acupuncture and physiotherapy have in the management of patients with Bell’s palsy”.6 Here we update our conclusions in the light of recently published evidence.