OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to validate a protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral facial palsy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive study was made of 63 patients diagnosed with facial palsy and given out-patient follow-up care. RESULTS: The average age was 41 years, with a 60 % preponderance of men, and the predominant side was the left one with a House-Brackmann degree of III on debut. The average time of evolution was 24 hours and the most frequent symptoms were mastoid pain and algiacusia. The treatment used was oral corticoids. Most were discharged in the first 60 days, without any relation with treatment or with the initial degree. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol is valid and it allows suitable monitoring of this pathology. Most of the cases are resolved within the first 60 days. The tests habitually done have a low diagnostic yield, except for the electroneuronography, very useful within the first 21 days.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to validate a protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral facial palsy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive study was made of 63 patients diagnosed with facial palsy and given out-patient follow-up care. RESULTS: The average age was 41 years, with a 60 % preponderance of men, and the predominant side was the left one with a House-Brackmann degree of III on debut. The average time of evolution was 24 hours and the most frequent symptoms were mastoid pain and algiacusia. The treatment used was oral corticoids. Most were discharged in the first 60 days, without any relation with treatment or with the initial degree. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol is valid and it allows suitable monitoring of this pathology. Most of the cases are resolved within the first 60 days. The tests habitually done have a low diagnostic yield, except for the electroneuronography, very useful within the first 21 days.