Author(s)
Shreni N. Shah, MD1
Kate Bonham, BS1
Abigail Albritton, BS1
Matthew Cheung, BS1
Tyler M. Rist, MD2
Michelle S. Hwang, MD1
Affiliation(s)
Medical University of South Carolina (Shah, Bonham, Albritton, Cheung, Hwang); University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (Rist);
Abstract:
Background:
Bell’s palsy is an idiopathic disorder characterized by rapid onset unilateral facial paralysis within a 72 hour period. The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS) Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend initiating high-dose oral steroids within 72 hours of symptom onset, along with subspecialty referral.
Objective:
This study aims to assess if Bell’s palsy patients diagnosed at a tertiary care center received care in accordance with current practice guidelines.
Methods and Results:
A retrospective chart review of 34 patients diagnosed over a 5-month period revealed an average age of 56, with 59% male. Steroids were prescribed for 79% of patients within 72 hours, but only 26% received correct dosing and duration. Among patients with incomplete symptom resolution, 75% were appropriately referred for subspecialty care.
Conclusion:
Our review shows a gap in adherence to AAO-HNS guidelines for Bell’s palsy treatment at our center. Given the potential long-term consequences of untreated facial nerve weakness, further research is needed to address these gaps and identify targetable areas for improvement in patient care. We will continue to evaluate an additional ten years of patient data to evaluate Bell’s Palsy care at our tertiary care center.