Ultrasound-guided Combined Perineural and Intramuscular Dextrose Injection for Management of Refractory Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy (BP) is characterized by idiopathic acute weakness of the facial muscles associated with compression of the facial nerve. The present prospective study sought to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided combined perineural and intramuscular dextrose injection for management of refractory Bell's palsy. The study included 30 patients with Bell's palsy with House-Brackmann scale ≥ 3 who were refractory to standard medical treatment after 3 months of disease onset. They received ultrasound-guided combined perineural and intramuscular dextrose injection. Clinical outcome was assessed using the House-Brackmann scale.

Inclusion Criteria: \- The study included 30 patients with Bell's palsy diagnosed according to the recommendations of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Exclusion Criteria: * Patients were excluded if they were previously submitted to injection therapy or surgical intervention for management of Bell's palsy. They were also excluded if they had associated mental illness or advanced systemic conditions (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, malignant disease, immunocompromised conditions).