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. 2018 Jul;22(3):148-153.
doi: 10.7874/jao.2017.00374. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Clinical Characteristics of Dizziness Associated with Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy

Kudamo Song  1 , Sehun Chang  2 , Jun Lee  1 , Sun Ae Shin  3 , Ho Yun Lee  1
Affiliations

Clinical Characteristics of Dizziness Associated with Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy

Kudamo Song et al. J Audiol Otol. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background and objectives: We aimed to assess the clinical significance of dizziness associated with acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP).

Subjects and methods: Medical records of patients who visited an otorhinolaryngology clinic at a university hospital and were admitted for treatment of APFP between 2014 and 2016 were thoroughly reviewed.

Results: In total, 15.3% (n=15) of patients had dizziness. Continuous, rotatory dizziness without exacerbating factors was most common and frequently accompanied by nausea/vomiting. Dizziness disappeared within 1 week during the hospitalization period. Patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (31.0%) had dizziness more frequently than those with Bell's palsy (8.7%). In addition, higher hearing thresholds and pain around the ear was reported more often in dizzy patients (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the initial House-Brackmann grade of facial paralysis was solely associated with final recovery, but dizziness was not associated with prognosis.

Conclusions: Patients with APFP may have transient dizziness in the early stage, which may be more frequently accompanied by worse hearing thresholds and/or pain around the ear. However, these symptoms including dizziness seem to be unrelated to final prognosis.

Keywords: Acute peripheral facial palsy; Bell’s palsy; Dizziness; Prognosis; Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

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