Rehabilitative treatment of facial paralysis from a multidisciplinary approach

Introduction: facial paralysis is an acute condition at the peripheral level that sets in abruptly. It produces a decrease or absence of mobility of the muscles that innervate the affected hemiface. It can be of central or peripheral origin. Depending on this, the rehabilitation treatment should be adjusted, taking into account the particularities of the affected persons and paying special attention to the emotional aspect. Objective: to identify the degree of satisfaction with the rehabilitation treatment of people with Bell's Palsy at the Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay Teaching Hospital. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 50 clinical histories. The variables used were sex, age, personal pathologic antecedents, symptoms and signs observed and the patient's evolution. Results: a clinical evolution with a very satisfactory result was observed in 64 % of the totality. The symptoms of facial asymmetry and deviation of the labial commissure after treatment were those that most frequently had a positive response. Conclusions: it was possible to identify that the clinical evolution achieved in more than half of the studied sample was very satisfactory. As secondary findings it was found that the most frequent pathological antecedents were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.