Facial paralysis occurs when voluntary muscle movement in a part of the face is lost.
Facial paralysis is the absolute loss of voluntary muscle movement on one side of the human face . This disorder is associated with the functioning of the facial nerve , also known as the seventh cranial nerve , which is a structure organized in pairs that extends through a narrow bony canal (the fallopian canal ) of the skull. For much of its journey, this nerve is inserted into this canal.
It is a mixed nerve (made up of efferent and motor fibers) and double that is found in the face. People have two facial nerves: each one makes possible the movement of the muscles on each side and transports nerve impulses to the lacrimal glands, salivary glands and the stapes muscles. The facial nerve also carries taste sensations that come from the tongue. When facial paralysis manifests, the function of the facial nerve is interrupted .
Facial paralysis can arise as a direct consequence of birth trauma , a brain tumor (in these cases, it arises slowly and manifests itself with headaches, seizures or hearing loss) or a stroke (the eye on the affected side closes and the forehead wrinkles).
Types of facial paralysis
There are many types of facial paralysis and their causes can be various. In 70% of cases the condition arises for unknown reasons and is called frigore or Bell's palsy ; In 25% it occurs as a consequence of some disease or brain accident, in these cases called traumatic facial paralysis . The rest of the cases are due to tumors, viruses, ear infections or diseases in the body that affect the facial nerve.
In turn, facial paralysis can be central or peripheral , depending on the degree of the injury, the area affected and the causes that caused it.
Treatment of facial paralysis may include giving steroids.
A temporary disorder
Bell's palsy is a disease that causes inflammation or trauma to the facial nerve. This is a type of temporary facial paralysis .
The scientific explanation for this problem is that it is due to an injury caused by poor blood circulation in the facial nerve or by an infection that developed in the same nerve, usually caused by a virus. In almost all cases it appears suddenly and if adequate treatment is received, there may be recovery (80% of cases are completely rehabilitated).
Traumatic facial paralysis
Traumatic facial paralysis is caused by external trauma resulting from traffic accidents that affected the head, accidents during childbirth, operations in the region of the brain that were not performed correctly or due to stab wounds in this same region.
In the case of paralysis caused by herpes zoster (a dangerous virus ), the most common symptoms are hearing loss and dizziness. This type of paralysis is called Ramsay-Hunt syndrome.
physiotherapy
One of the treatments performed to treat paralysis is through physical therapy . Before starting the exercises of each session, the physiotherapist carries out an exhaustive study of the motor skills of the face to be aware of the evolution that is being obtained with the treatment; To do this, it asks the patient to respond to a series of commands that are intended to know how their facial muscles are reacting.
In any case, before reaching this point it is necessary for a doctor specializing in neurology to make a diagnosis to know what the appropriate treatment is, according to the type of facial paralysis we are facing. When the patient has been properly analyzed and a diagnosis of his or her paralysis has been made, physiotherapy should begin.
The fundamental objective of physiotherapy exercises is to encourage the patient to commit to the treatment, to work hard, being aware that they may not see progress until well after the treatment has begun. Motivation is essential and for this, patients are recommended to use the affected region as much as possible, chewing gum, speaking in an articulatory manner, etc.
Diagnosis and treatment of facial paralysis
To diagnose this paralysis, the symptoms must be carefully analyzed, which are the inability to move the muscles of one half of the face, whether on the right or left side (the immovable half appears flaccid); sliding of the mouth to one side and down and inability to close the eye on the affected side; and lack of sensitivity in hearing, tears, saliva and taste in the half of the face that is paralyzed.
As far as treatment is concerned, in certain cases of facial paralysis, steroids and acyclovir are recommended. When the eye cannot be closed completely, it is necessary to protect the cornea from drying out using drops or a prescription lubricating ophthalmic gel .
Other resources used in the treatment are the supply of corticosteroids , which prevent the nerve from continuing to deteriorate; Furthermore, if the causes have been a virus, a treatment must be developed to combat it and provide vitamin B that will allow healthy rehabilitation of the nerve.