Abstract
Objectives : This study was performed to categorize and define causes of recurrent peripheral facial nerve palsy. Methods : 54 patients was identified with recurrent peripheral facial nerve palsy among 726 patients who visited the Facial Palsy Center in East-West Neo Medical Center between May 2006 and August 2008. We reviewed the medical records including gender, age, laterality, number of recurrence, primary onset age, interval between recurrences, accompanied disease(e.g. DM, HTN), and axonal loss. Results : Patients whose primary palsy onset was before their second decade had a higher possibility of recurrence and tended to recur more than twice. Double-episode ipsilaterally recurrent group showed definitely worse result of axonal loss compared with non-recurrent group and single-episode ipsilaterally recurrent group. But There was no statistically significant difference between mean axonal loss of the non-recurrent group and single-episode ipsilaterally recurrent group. Conclusions : This study was designed for 54 patients and further studies are necessary.