Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for facial palsy

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (OHP) upon 204 cases of facial palsy in the last eight years. Of these, 185 cases were diagnosed as Bell's palsy and 19 cases as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. In the cases that the therapy was started within two weeks after onset, 82% of Bell's palsy and 81% of Ramsay Hunt syndrome were recoverd completely. The mean time for recovery was 28.3 days in Bell's palsy and 27.5 days in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The milder the degree of the palsy was, the younger they were and the shorter the period from onset to the beginning of OHP was, the higher the rate of complete recovery was. Even in the cases that the therapy was started over two weeks after onset, 47% of Bell's palsy were recoverd completely. OHP is very effective therapy for facial palsy, since it is safe and can be adopted anybody regardless of another illness and age. © 1991, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.