[Treatment of peripheral paresis-paralysis of the facial nerve using corticosteroids].

: The study comprised 113 patients with Bell's paresis-paralysis of the facial nerve. This group was considered as experimental while the control group involved patients with the same disease treated with oral corticosteroids. In both groups physical therapy has been applied from the very beginning of therapy. The results of the study have shown that in the group of patients treated with local corticosteroids the complete recovery was found in 82% of cases, partial in 14% and no signs of recovery in 4%. The mean time of clinical and electrophysiologic recovery was 17 days. In the control group of patients the complete recovery was found in 50%, partial in 37.5% and no improvement in 12.5%. The significant influence on the time and degree of recovery in both groups, and especially in the first group, has the time of starting the therapy; if the therapy started in the first week after the onset of the disease, the recovery was usually complete in the first group.