Microcirculation evaluation of facial nerve palsy using laser speckle contrast imaging: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a common disease in the otorhinolaryngological department. Besides the main symptom of motionlessness occurring in the ipsilateral facial muscles in FNP, there are other common complaints of numbness, stiffness and tightness in ipsilateral face described by the patients. Based on our pilot study, we further investigated the relevance between these complaints and facial microcirculation.

METHOD: Function of facial microcirculation was evaluated by laser speckle contrast imaging (LCSI). Facial perfusion was measured in 143 patients with facial nerve palsy (FNP) at the first visit and follow-up visit under the same conditions.

RESULTS: Difference in FNP patients' facial microvascular perfusions between ipsilateral and contralateral side was significant (P = 0.0002613). Facial perfusion of patients with Bell's palsy (P = 00089) and facial nerve tumors (P = 0.025110) was significantly decreasing in the ipsilateral side. Improvement of perfusion could be seen after treatment.

CONCLUSION: A positive correlation of FNP severity and microvascular impairment can be noticed. During treatment, patients' ipsilateral perfusion could increase. Therefore, this objective method can measure ipsilateral perfusion in the patients with FNP and the ipsilateral microvascular impairment can be detected through this method.