Prognosis of facial palsy in Borrelia burgdorferi meningopolyradiculoneuritis.

Out of 72 patients treated for Borrelia burgdorferi meningopolyradiculoneuritis facial palsies occurred in 22 (12 unilateral, 10 bilateral). Eleven of the 32 pareses were initially complete. By the follow-up examination patients had recovered well with slight sequelae in 22% without cosmetically disfiguring pareses or synkinesias. Electrophysiological studies revealed axonal damage of the nerve as the underlying mechanism.