facial weakness

see also:

• RCH guideline - facial weakness and Bell's palsy
• facial nerve palsy / Bell's palsy
• stroke (CVA)

• any one or more of:
  • new weakness of arm or leg
  • new dysphasia
  • sparing of the forehead muscles (eg. forehead folds persist)
    • although if patient has had forehead Botox this may hide this sign
  • new involvement of other cranial nerves
    • eg. deafness + Horner's suggests a dorsolateral pons lesion due to superior cerebellar artery infarction

• if onset within past 4hrs:
  • acute stroke call
  • urgent CT brain
• Mx as per stroke (CVA)

• Mx as per facial nerve palsy / Bell's palsy while excluding other causes