{
  "abstract": "Background Electromyography (EMG) is a useful tool for assessing the severity of facial nerve palsy (FNP) and predicting recovery. However, serial EMG has rarely been studied, particularly in cases of severe, chronic, and non-idiopathic FNP. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of serial EMG in a cohort of patients with severe FNP.Methods A prospective cohort study was performed on 15 patients presenting to the Sydney Facial Nerve Clinic with severe FNP. Serial EMG studies were performed until their facial nerve function remained stable. The severity of FNP was recorded using the House-Brackmann facial grading scale (HB) at initial review and most recent follow up with those scoring HB I-IV classified as good recovery. Results Facial palsies were iatrogenic (n=6), Bell’s palsy (n=4), traumatic (n=2), tumour (n=2), and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (n=1). The median HB score was VI at initial review and IV at follow up with nine (60%) classified as good recovery. EMG was performed once in 15 patients, twice in eight patients, and three times in 6 patients. The positive predictive value (PPV) at initial EMG for good recovery was 75% for near-normal and normal recruitment. At second and third EMG, the PPV for good recovery was 100% for no further denervation, 100% for improvement in recruitment, and 100% for voluntary units. Conclusion Performing serial EMG is useful in prognosticating recovery in severe FNP and clinicians may use serial EMG to guide management decisions and counsel patients on their expectations.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Stacey Jankelowitz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Hubert Low"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "George Petrides"
    }
  ],
  "title": "CS15 Can EMG predict recovery of facial nerve lesions",
  "uid": "d9ef2742-9b40-51ba-bf29-754a3b80dd3b"
}