A Study on 77 Cases of Bell’s Palsy and 32 Cases of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

A clinical study was performed on 109 patients with facial palsy who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology of Kohsei Chuo General Hospital between January 2008 and December 2013. There were 77 cases of Bell’s palsy and 32 cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome. A significant difference was seen in the healing at the final examination depending on the time of the first visit and the paralysis score in both the cases of Bell’s palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The cure rate was significantly higher in the Ramsay Hunt syndrome patients who had received steroid pulse therapy as compared to those who had not. Our findings suggested that neuropathy was more severe in Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and that those with advanced facial paralysis were more resistant to treatment. Our results suggested that an aggressive steroid therapy could be recommended for Ramsay Hunt syndrome patients who show advanced paralysis, and also that oral steroid administration could be recommended for Bell’s palsy patients who have milder paralysis. We concluded that, rather than considering administration of high doses of steroids in all cases of facial paralysis, the steroid dose should be selected according to the severity of the paralysis and its cause, in order to reduce the side effects and complications.