Bell's Palsy: A Predisposition of Pregnant Women

Abstract

Bell's palsy continues to be a perplexing disorder of unknown etiology. A study of Bell's palsy at Confederate Memorial Medical Center revealed that 20% of the patients surveyed were pregnant or in the puerperium, suggesting an increased predisposition for Bell's palsy in pregnant women. Toxemia of pregnancy may be a factor in the increased incidence of the disorder in this series. A patient with bilateral Bell's palsy during pregnancy was treated with bilateral facial nerve decompressions prior to delivery.