This study aimed to determine the parameters necessary for a study of stapedial reflexes in leprosy patients to ascertain if the facial nerve is involved more proximally than the stylomastoid foramen. It involved leprosy patients with and without facial nerve involvement and non-leprosy controls. Clinical examination of the patients' ears, a tympanogram and audiogram to exclude conductive and sensorineural deafness, followed by the measurement of a stapedial reflex and the acoustic reflex threshold, were carried out. The number of absent reflexes and the acoustic reflex thresholds did not differ between the three groups of subjects. A definitive study would be logistically impossible. Suggestions are made as to more exact patient selection in order to demonstrate any stapedial reflex changes due to leprosy. The findings of this study do not suggest that facial nerve pathology extends proximally to the stylomastoid foramen, unless such proximal involvement is subclinical to the detection methods used.
BT - Leprosy review C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10603722?dopt=Abstract CN - Infolep Library - available DA - 1999 Sep DO - 10.5935/0305-7518.19990036 IS - 3 J2 - Lepr Rev LA - eng N2 -This study aimed to determine the parameters necessary for a study of stapedial reflexes in leprosy patients to ascertain if the facial nerve is involved more proximally than the stylomastoid foramen. It involved leprosy patients with and without facial nerve involvement and non-leprosy controls. Clinical examination of the patients' ears, a tympanogram and audiogram to exclude conductive and sensorineural deafness, followed by the measurement of a stapedial reflex and the acoustic reflex threshold, were carried out. The number of absent reflexes and the acoustic reflex thresholds did not differ between the three groups of subjects. A definitive study would be logistically impossible. Suggestions are made as to more exact patient selection in order to demonstrate any stapedial reflex changes due to leprosy. The findings of this study do not suggest that facial nerve pathology extends proximally to the stylomastoid foramen, unless such proximal involvement is subclinical to the detection methods used.
PY - 1999 SP - 324 EP - 32 T2 - Leprosy review TI - The stapedial reflex as a topographical marker of proximal involvement of the facial nerve in leprosy. A pilot study. UR - http://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/1999/v70n3/pdf/v70n3a13.pdf VL - 70 SN - 0305-7518 ER -