Surgical Treatment of Bell's Palsy

MELKERSSON'S SYNDROME: Report of Five Cases, with Special Reference to the Pathologic Observations

“…Most frequently the disease begins in childhood or youth with peripheral facial palsy ; 3 of my patients were women, 2 were men, and in all of them the disease had its onset with facial palsy before the eighteenth year (at the ages of 2, lyi, 16,18 and 8 years, respectively).…”

Observations on Melkersson’s syndrome

“…As it descends the aqueduct it increases in thickness and strength which reaches a maximum in density and tough-ness as it approaches the stylomastoid foramen. When the Fallopian canal is explored for compression and the facial sheath slit, the nerve laterally herniates through the incision (Ballance & Duel, 1932;Morris, 1938;Cawthorne, 1951;Kettel, 1947;Sullivan & Smith, 1950), and is seen to be markedly congested and swollen to twice its normal size (Hall, 1951). This process is particularly marked in the lower third of the canal.…”

Antiviral agents convey added benefit over steroids alone in Bell's palsy; decompression should be considered in patients who are not recovering

“…9 Although it refers to a supposedly 'idiopathic' lesion, many theories have been developed. [21][22][23][24][25] If this is true, the typical vesicles of the zoster are not present. [10][11][12] Nowadays, most literature suggests that Bell's palsy is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] or varicella zoster virus.…”

“…Bell's palsy has been attributed to cold exposure, chill or rheumatism 10 – 12 . Nowadays, most literature suggests that Bell's palsy is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus 13 – 20 or varicella zoster virus 21 – 25 . If this is true, the typical vesicles of the zoster are not present.…”