Don't wait -- surgical options exist for Bell's palsy

Dr. John Leonetti, an Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon, discusses surgical treatment of idiopathetic facial paralysis, also known as Bell's palsy. It causes a facial paralysis on one side of the face and is thought to be brought on by a virus. Cranial Nerve 7 is affected in this disorder. This nerve branches out and controls all the movement on one side of the face. In Bell's palsy, the nerve swells within its bony sleeve and paralyzes itself. Often, patients with Bell's palsy are treated with steroids and it clears up. But for the others, the bony sleeve of this nerve must be removed. At Loyola, this surgery is accompanied by electrical stimulation of the nerve, which helps to jump-start it. These patients recover facial movement much sooner and can start rehab with therapists earlier. Loyola's Center for Facial Nerve Disorders has 25 years of experience and a dedicated staff, with a national and international reputation for the patients that they have helped and the research papers that they have published. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 888-LUHS-888 (888-584-7888).