Remote Cognitive Therapeutic Exercise in Facial Nerve Palsy Rehabilitation: Pandemic Tips and Tricks.

Abstract

Facial nerve palsy is a clinical diagnosis differentiating between central upper motor neuron lesions and peripheral lower motor neuron lesions. Rehabilitation is an important issue in peripheral facial nerve palsy management. In this article, we present the case of an adult woman affected by right peripheral facial nerve palsy due to acoustic neuroma surgical excision. She immediately started a rehabilitation plan, but it was stopped due to COVID-19 lockdown and did not resume because of the fear of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, we planned to treat her palsy with remote neurocognitive rehabilitation. After 10 months of treatment, the patient underwent a follow-up physiatric assessment, confirming right facial palsy improvement. There was a slight nasolabial groove flattening and slight left oral rime deviation while smiling (House-Brackmann classification improved from Grade IV to III). Telerehabilitation represents a valid strategy for neurocognitive rehabilitation, not only in a pandemic scenario, but also in other conditions that lead to social distancing.