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Journals / The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat / 2026 / Volume: 33 Issue: 2

Covid-19 and Bell Palsy: Could it Be Neurotrophic Involvement?

Kemal Koray Bal(Mersin University, Faculty of Medicine, Otorhinolaryngology Department)0000-0002-2000-0601
Sedat Alagöz(University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Department)0000-0003-2323-0792
Talih Özdaş(University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Department)0000-0003-3651-1892
Asiye Merve Erdoğan(Gaziantep Abdulkadir Yüksel Devlet Hastanesi)0000-0002-8382-5424
Vedat Delibaş(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ADANA TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-0404-3019
Gulali Ocar(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ADANA TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-0432-4072
Okan Dılek(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ADANA TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-2144-2460
Feride Fatma Görgülü(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ADANA TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-5830-0637
Orhan Görgülü(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ADANA TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-6566-843X
Pages
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Publication Date
2023-06-22
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Since the Covid-19 virus is a new entity for the world, we think that it has a neurotrophic affinity for the facial nerve although our knowledge about this virus is limited.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Idiopathic cases are common, and the etiology is not clearly explained.
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Key Findings & Data:The purpose of this study is to compare the frequency, clinical-radiological characteristics and response to the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis patients who visited the otorhinolaryngology clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the same period of the previous year, and to discuss this data in the light of the literature.
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Conclusion & Impact:Since the Covid-19 virus is a new entity for the world, we think that it has a neurotrophic affinity for the facial nerve although our knowledge about this virus is limited.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bell palsy · COVID-19 · facial nerve

Abstract

Objective: Idiopathic cases are common, and the etiology is not clearly explained. The purpose of this study is to compare the frequency, clinical-radiological characteristics and response to the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis patients who visited the otorhinolaryngology clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the same period of the previous year, and to discuss this data in the light of the literature. Materials and Methods: Otoscopic examination findings, audiological results, application and post-healing grade information according to House Brackmann Staging system were obtained from all the patients’ files. Temporal Bone Computed Tomography, which is included in the routine practice of our clinic, and Cranial & Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations for the elimination of central causes were applied to the patients. Facial nerve tympanic, mastoid, labyrinth segment and geniculate ganglion diameters were measured separately for the diseased side and the healthy side. Results: In the study, Group 1 consisted of 42 patients (43%), and Group 2 consisted of 56 patients (57%). 56 (57%) of the patients were male and 42 (43%) were female. The left and right-side facial paralysis admissions were equal, but no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.068). Conclusions: Peripheral facial paralysis is a very common case in ear, nose, and throat practice and requires priority treatment and follow-up. Since the Covid-19 virus is a new entity for the world, we think that it has a neurotrophic affinity for the facial nerve although our knowledge about this virus is limited.

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Cite This Article

Bal, K. K., Alagöz, S., Özdaş, T., Erdoğan, A. M., Delibaş, V., Ocar, G., Dılek, O., Görgülü, F. F., Görgülü, O. (2023). Covid-19 and Bell Palsy: Could it Be Neurotrophic Involvement?. The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat, Volume: 33 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.26650/Tr-ENT.2023.1207048

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