This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of current online information on Bell's palsy.

A Google search using the terms ‘Bell's palsy’ and ‘facial palsy’ was performed separately. The first three pages of results were analysed. Readability was assessed using Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, the Gunning-Fog Index and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Quality was assessed using the Discern tool. Spearman's correlation between quality and readability was calculated.

A total of 31 websites met the inclusion criteria. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, the Gunning Fox Index and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scores were 52.45 (95 per cent confidence interval = 47.01–57.86), 10.50 (95 per cent confidence interval = 9.42–11.58), 12.76 (95 per cent confidence interval = 11.68–13.85) and 9.36 (95 per cent confidence interval = 8.52–10.20), respectively. The average Discern score was 44 (95 per cent confidence interval = 40.88–47.12). A negligible correlation was noted between the Discern and Flesch Reading Ease Score (rs = −0.05, p = 0.80).

Online information on Bell's palsy is generally of fair quality but is written above the recommended reading age guidance in the UK.

This study evaluated the effects of the diameter of facial canal segments on the ipsilateral recurrence of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis.

This study enrolled 20 patients with ipsilateral recurrent idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. Measurements were made at the meatal foramen and mid-level of the labyrinthine segment and the narrowest and widest diameters of the mastoid and tympanic segments using the curved planar reformation technique with high-resolution computed tomography.

The diameters of the labyrinthine segment measured at the meatal foramen and mid-level segments and the narrowest and widest diameters of the tympanic and mastoid segments on the recurrent paralytic side were significantly smaller than the diameters of the segments on the healthy side.

The narrowness of the facial canal segments may be a risk factor in recurrent idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis.

Bell's palsy is a lower motor neurone facial weakness of unknown aetiology, although reactivation of a virus within the facial nerve has been proposed.

A prospective study was conducted of Bell's palsy cases presenting to our paediatric ENT unit over a 19-week period, from February to June 2020. Patients were invited for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody testing. A text-message questionnaire was sent to other ENT centres to determine their observational experience.

During the study period, 17 children presented with Bell's palsy, compared with only 3 children in the same time period in the previous year (p < 0.0001). Five patients underwent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody testing, the results of which were all negative. Four out of 15 centres questioned perceived an increased incidence in paediatric Bell's palsy.

Clinicians are encouraged to be vigilant to the increase in paediatric Bell's palsy seen during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which may represent a post-viral sequela of coronavirus disease 2019.

This study aimed to investigate the possible association between recurrent facial nerve palsy and migraines.

This study was a prospective case series with a two-year follow-up at an academic, tertiary referral centre and included patients with at least four episodes of recurrent lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy. All patients underwent standardised diagnostic tests.

Four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The patients were all female with an average age at presentation of 40.75 years (range, 33–60 years) and an average age at the initial episode of 14 years (range, 12–16 years). The number of episodes varied between six and nine. All patients had at least one episode of facial nerve palsy on the contralateral side. Two patients were diagnosed and treated for migraine with aura remaining asymptomatic following prophylactic medication for migraines.

The results raise the possibility of an association between recurrent facial nerve palsy and migraines. Prospective studies in patients with even fewer episodes of facial nerve palsy could shed more light on this association.

This study investigated whether patients who remain symptomatic more than a year following idiopathic facial paralysis gain benefit from tailored facial physiotherapy.

A two-year retrospective review was conducted of all symptomatic patients. Data collected included: age, gender, duration of symptoms, Sunnybrook facial grading system scores pre-treatment and at last visit, and duration of treatment.

The study comprised 22 patients (with a mean age of 50.5 years (range, 22–75 years)) who had been symptomatic for more than a year following idiopathic facial paralysis. The mean duration of symptoms was 45 months (range, 12–240 months). The mean duration of follow up was 10.4 months (range, 2–36 months). Prior to treatment, the mean Sunnybrook facial grading system score was 59 (standard deviation = 3.5); this had increased to 83 (standard deviation = 2.7) at the last visit, with an average improvement in score of 23 (standard deviation = 2.9). This increase was significant (p < 0.001).

Tailored facial therapy can improve facial grading scores in patients who remain symptomatic for prolonged periods.

To evaluate the causes, treatment modalities and recovery rate of paediatric facial nerve paralysis.

We analysed 24 cases of paediatric facial nerve paralysis diagnosed in the otolaryngology department of Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2001 and June 2006.

The most common cause was idiopathic palsy (16 cases, 66.7 per cent). The most common degree of facial nerve paralysis on first presentation was House–Brackmann grade IV (15 of 24 cases). All cases were treated with steroids. One of the 24 cases was also treated surgically with facial nerve decompression. Twenty-two cases (91.6 per cent) recovered to House–Brackmann grade I or II over the six-month follow-up period.

Facial nerve paralysis in children can generally be successfully treated with conservative measures. However, in cases associated with trauma, radiological investigation is required for further evaluation and treatment.

The prognosis for cases of idiopathic facial palsy is usually good. However, some cases develop disabling sequelae, such as synkinesis or severe facial hemispasm, despite targeted medical treatment.

The authors try to achieve that electromyography is useful to identify patients with severe palsy and an unfavourable prognosis. These patients would probably benefit from facial nerve decompression.

The otolaryngology – head and neck surgery department of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, a tertiary referral centre.

Thirteen cases undergoing surgery between January 1997 and March 2007.

We describe the electromyographic findings that led to surgery. All patients underwent surgery via a subpetrous approach, within four months of the onset of palsy. Decompression involved the first and second portions of the nerve and the geniculate ganglion.

Recovery to House–Brackmann grade III was obtained in all cases at one year follow up.

These results compared favourably with previous reports. A new therapeutic procedure may allow improved results.