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- Title
Can the Nasal Schirmer Test be Used as a Topographic Test in Facial Paralysis Patients?
- Authors
YILDIZ, Muhammet; BAKİ, Ahmet
- Abstract
Objective: Mucociliary clearance is an important defense mechanism of the respiratory system. One of the main factors determining mucociliary clearance is the ciliary activity of the respiratory epithelium. The amount of nasal secretion can be easily determined by the recently used nasal Schirmer test. The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of nasal secretion in patients with facial paralysis. Methods: A total of 50 patients with unilateral facial paralysis were included in the study. Eye and nasal Schirmer test were applied to the patients. The eye Schirmer test results were calculated after 5 minutes and the nasal Schirmer test results were calculated after 10 minutes, in millimeters according to the amount of wetting of the test papers. Schirmer test results of paralyzed and nonparalyzed sides were compared with each other. Results: The mean paralytic and non-paralytic side eye Schirmer test values of the patients with facial paralysis were 11.14±4.80 and 19.54±4.01, respectively. Mean paralytic and non-paralytic side nasal Schirmer test values were 10.92±4.82 and 20.54±4.31, respectively. Eye and nasal Schirmer test values of the paralytic side were significantly lower than the non-paralytic side (p<0.05). In the right facial paralysis group; the right eye and nasal Schirmer test results were significantly lower than the left side results (p<0.05). In the left facial paralysis group; the left eye and nasal Schirmer test were significantly lower than the right side results (p<0.05). Nasal Schirmer test results of Grade 2-3 and Grade 4-5 facial paralysis patients were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the amount of nasal secretion on the paralysis side of the patients with unilateral facial paralysis was lower than the contralateral side. Further studies are needed to determine whether decreased secretion improves in long-term follow-up and the prognostic significance of nasal dryness in facial paralysis.
- Subjects
FACIAL paralysis; PEOPLE with paralysis; MUCOCILIARY system; RESPIRATORY organs; EYE examination
- Publication
Bezmialem Science, 2021, Vol 9, Issue 2, p158
- ISSN
2148-2373
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.14235/bas.galenos.2020.3962