Does the Degree of the Mastoid Pneumatization Affect the Side of Bell Palsy?

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to investigate the impact of degree of mastoid pneumatization on the affected side of Bell palsy (BP).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study in tertiary academic hospital.

METHODS

In total, 52 patients who were diagnosed with as BP were included in the study. Each patient was staged using House-Brackmann (HB) staging system. All patients underwent temporal bone computed tomography imaging. House-Brackmann scores, side of the BP, and mastoid pneumatization of all of patients were evaluated in the present study.

RESULTS

Regarding the degree of the mastoid pneumatization, there were no significant differences between the affected side and the unaffected side (P = 0.439). The degree of the mastoid pneumatization of the affected side and the unaffected side did not differ between males and females (P = 0.918 for the affected side, P = 0.765 for the unaffected side, respectively). A negative correlation between the age and mastoid pneumatization of each side was found (P = 0.001, P = 0.025, respectively). There was no significant correlation between HB score and the degree of the mastoid pneumatization of each side (P = 0.789, P = 0.703).

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, the degree of the mastoid pneumatization is not one of the risk factors for BP. Further randomized studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these findings.