Otorhinolaryngological Disorders Implicated in Facial Nerve Paralysis in a Tertiary Hospital in Port Harcourt

Background: It is not all facial nerve palsy that presents to the otorhinolaryngologist that is Bell’s palsy; therefore there is a need for proper evaluation of these patients. This study is to determine the pattern and prevalence of otorhinolaryngologic disorders associated with facial nerve paralysis.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and pattern of otorhinological disorders implicated in facial nerve paralysis in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Patients and Methods: Study design: This was a hospital-based descriptive study. The patients diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis seen in the Ear Nose and Throat surgery and Physiotherapy departments of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) from January 2014 to December 2018 were collated and those among them with associated otorhinolaryngological disorders were recruited and studied. Data on patient demographics, presenting complaints and ear nose and throat disorders were sought from the case files, clinic and ward registers. Data entry was done using Microsoft Excel and exported to United States CDC Epi-Info version 7 for data analysis. Frequency tables and appropriate charts were used to present data. Chi square statistics was performed to determine significant differences between demographics of the patients and category of facial nerve palsy patients at alpha level of 0.05.

Results: 76 patients with facial nerve paralysis, twenty one of them were associated with ORL disorder giving a prevalence of 27.6%. Ages below 40 years were the most affected and a slight male preponderance. Acute and chronic otitis media were seen in 33.3% of these patients respectively while Ramsay hunt syndrome and otitis externa were seen in 9.5%. Age and incidence of ORL disorders in these patients had statistical correlation.

Conclusion: ORL disorders associated with facial paralysis are still prevalent and otitis media appear to be the most common.