Lower Motor Neuron Facial palsy

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• Weakness or paralysis of movement of all (or some) of the face
• Description of weakness or paralysis of movement of all (or some) of the face
• No sparing of forehead muscle weakness
• Associated features such as otalgia, otorrhoea, vesicles, parotid mass or tympanic membrane abnormality,
• History of preceding viral illness such as Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Bell's palsy is idiopathic facial palsy and therefore a diagnosis of exclusion:

• If sparing of forehead muscles, consider stroke or other central causes
• Steroid therapy may be initiated if no associated findings
• Consider anti-viral treatment if associated with vesicles
• Protection of the eye from a corneal abrasion is paramount. Apply Lacrilube and tape the eye shut at night

Direct link to Health Pathways - Bell's Palsy page

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Contact ENT OPD

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.