Facial Function in Bell Palsy in a Cohort of Children Randomized to Prednisolone or Placebo 12 Months After Diagnosis

Background: Information on the medium-term recovery of children with Bell palsy or acute idiopathic lower motor neuron facial paralysis is limited. Methods: We followed up children aged 6 months to <18 years with Bell palsy for 12 months after completion of a randomized trial on the use of prednisolone. We assessed facial function using the clinician-administered House-Brackmann scale and the modified parent-administered House-Brackmann scale. Results: One hundred eighty-seven children were randomized to prednisolone (n = 93) or placebo (n = 94). At six months, the proportion of patients who had recovered facial function based on the clinician-administered House-Brackmann scale was 98% (n = 78 of 80) in the prednisolone group and 93% (n = 76 of 82) in the placebo group. The proportion of patients who had recovered facial function based on the modified parent-administered House-Brackmann scale was 94% (n = 75 of 80) vs 89% (n = 72 of 81) at six months (OR 1.88; 95% CI 0.60, 5.86) and 96% (n = 75 of 78) vs 92% (n = 73 of 79) at 12 months (OR 3.12; 95% CI 0.61, 15.98). Conclusions: Although the vast majority had complete recovery of facial function at six months, there were some children without full recovery of facial function at 12 months, regardless of prednisolone use.