Correlação entre bem estar e comprometimento facial em pacientes com paralisia facial periférica

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between facial motor impairment and well being in patients with Peripheral Facial Paralysis (PFP). Method: This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 20 people affected by PFP. The patients were evaluated by a socio-demographic data sheet and by the instruments: House-Brackmann Scale (HB) and Facial Impairment Index (IIF). Results: The demographic characteristics of the participants were 65% female, the median age was 50.5 years, the reported injury time was 3 to 331 days (median 17.5 days), the predominant etiology was idiopathic 65%, and hemiface affected 50% on the right. Regarding the clinical characteristics of the PFP, the level of facial motor impairment graded by the HB scale obtained a median of 4, the physical IFF obtained a median of 60, considering that the higher the score obtained, the better the functionality. IFF-social function obtained median 38, considering that the lower the score, the better the social performance. In the correlations between HB, injury time and IFF, it was observed that the values obtained indicated that there were no statistically significant correlations. Conclusion: even if the level of facial motor impairment is accentuated, it may not necessarily directly affect people's quality of life, depending on the social reality, search for treatments or personal satisfaction of each individual.