Idiopathic facial (Bell's) palsy: a clinical survey of prognostic factors.

Forty-four patients with idiopathic facial (Bell's) palsy were studied. They were assessed by the eventual clinical outcome and on this basis 3 groups were formed. Various clinical parameters were studied and those factors associated with a poor prognosis were identified. The factors of significance include age, initial severity of the palsy and the time taken for spontaneous improvement. All other parameters fail to show any statistically significant correlation with prognosis.