Purpose <p>To evaluate the prognostic significance of inflammatory markers, computed tomography (CT)-based facial nerve measurements, and clinical parameters in pediatric patients with Bell’s palsy.</p> Methods <p>In this retrospective study, 136 patients aged 4–18 years diagnosed with Bell’s palsy were evaluated. Clinical data included age, sex, affected side, initial House-Brackmann (HB) grade, recovery grades at one month and final follow-up, presence of pain, and treatment timing. Inflammatory markers—mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR)— were calculated from laboratory data obtained at admission. Facial nerve-to-facial canal (FN/FC) ratios were measured via CT in five regions. The control group included 70 age-matched children with normal CT scans obtained for non-specific complaints such as headache. Recovery was categorized as full (HB 1), partial (improved but not grade 1), or poor.</p> Results <p>Initial HB grade was significantly correlated with both one-month (<i>r</i> = 0.67, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and final recovery (<i>r</i> = 0.33, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). CAR was weakly correlated with one-month recovery (<i>r</i> = 0.224, <i>p</i> = 0.0089) but not long-term outcome. MPV, NLR, and PLR showed no significant prognostic value. FN/FC ratios were significantly higher in the labyrinthine, geniculate, and tympanic regions on the paralyzed side compared to both the control group and non-paralyzed side. However, no correlations were found between FN/FC ratios and recovery. A moderate correlation was observed between initial HB grade and tympanic FN/FC ratio (<i>r</i> = 0.321, <i>p</i> = 0.001).</p> Conclusion <p>Initial clinical severity best predicts recovery in pediatric Bell’s palsy. Inflammatory and radiologic parameters offer limited prognostic value and warrant cautious interpretation.</p>

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Prognostic value of inflammatory and radiologic markers in pediatric bell’s palsy: a retrospective study

  • Cem Çelik,
  • Belgin Tutar,
  • Güler Berkiten,
  • Tolgar Lütfi Kumral,
  • Yavuz Atar,
  • Hüseyin Sarı,
  • Melis Ece Arkan Anarat,
  • Sabire Sitare Sarıçam,
  • Yavuz Uyar

摘要

Purpose

To evaluate the prognostic significance of inflammatory markers, computed tomography (CT)-based facial nerve measurements, and clinical parameters in pediatric patients with Bell’s palsy.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 136 patients aged 4–18 years diagnosed with Bell’s palsy were evaluated. Clinical data included age, sex, affected side, initial House-Brackmann (HB) grade, recovery grades at one month and final follow-up, presence of pain, and treatment timing. Inflammatory markers—mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR)— were calculated from laboratory data obtained at admission. Facial nerve-to-facial canal (FN/FC) ratios were measured via CT in five regions. The control group included 70 age-matched children with normal CT scans obtained for non-specific complaints such as headache. Recovery was categorized as full (HB 1), partial (improved but not grade 1), or poor.

Results

Initial HB grade was significantly correlated with both one-month (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and final recovery (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). CAR was weakly correlated with one-month recovery (r = 0.224, p = 0.0089) but not long-term outcome. MPV, NLR, and PLR showed no significant prognostic value. FN/FC ratios were significantly higher in the labyrinthine, geniculate, and tympanic regions on the paralyzed side compared to both the control group and non-paralyzed side. However, no correlations were found between FN/FC ratios and recovery. A moderate correlation was observed between initial HB grade and tympanic FN/FC ratio (r = 0.321, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Initial clinical severity best predicts recovery in pediatric Bell’s palsy. Inflammatory and radiologic parameters offer limited prognostic value and warrant cautious interpretation.