Bell’s Palsy: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

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Bell’s Palsy: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

How do you differentiate Bell's Palsy from an acute stroke on physical exam?

A. Presence of forehead wrinkles
B. Inability to close the eyelid on the affected side
C. Drooping of the mouth corner on the affected side
D. Loss of taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
E. Inability to raise eyebrows on the affected side

Answer and topic summary

The answer is E. Inability to raise eyebrows on the affected side

Bell’s Palsy is a peripheral facial nerve palsy that affects all branches of the facial nerve on one side, including the forehead muscles. This results in the inability to raise the eyebrows on the affected side. In contrast, a central facial palsy, such as that seen with a stroke, typically spares the forehead muscles due to bilateral upper motor neuron innervation to this area. Patients with a stroke can usually still wrinkle their forehead on the affected side.

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Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Neurology ⇒ Cranial Nerve Palsies => Bell's Palsy

Also found on PAEA Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Pediatric Rotation EOR topic list