House–Brackmann score

The House–Brackmann score is a score to grade the degree of nerve damage in a facial nerve palsy. The measurement is determined by measuring the upwards (superior) movement of the mid-portion of the top of the eyebrow, and the outwards (lateral) movement of the angle of the mouth. Each reference point scores 1 point for each 0.25 cm movement, up to a maximum of 1 cm. The scores are then added together, to give a number out of 8.^[1] The score predicts recovery in those with Bell's palsy.^[2]

The score carries the name of the Dr John W. House and Dr Derald E. Brackmann, otolaryngologists in Los Angeles, California, who first described the system in 1985.^[1] It is one of a number of facial nerve scoring systems, such as Burres-Fisch, Nottingham, Sunnybrook,^[3] and Yanagihara.^[4] Of these, the Nottingham scale has been identified as possibly being easier and more reproducible.^[3] A modification of the original House–Brackmann score, called the "Facial Nerve Grading Scale 2.0" (FNGS2.0) was proposed in 2009.^[4]

Grade	Description	Measurement	Function %	Estimated function %
I	Normal	8/8	100	100
II	Slight	7/8	76–99	80
III	Moderate	5/8–6/8	51–75	60
IV	Moderately severe	3/8–4/8	26–50	40
V	Severe	1/8–2/8	1–25	20
VI	Total	0/8	0	0

References

1. House JW, Brackmann DE (1985). "Facial nerve grading system". Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 93: 146–147. PMID 3921901.
2. Danner CJ (June 2008). "Facial nerve paralysis". Otolaryngol. Clin. North Am. 41 (3): 619–32. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2008.01.008. PMID 18436002.
3. Kang TS, Vrabec JT, Giddings N, Terris DJ (September 2002). "Facial nerve grading systems (1985-2002): beyond the House-Brackmann scale". Otol. Neurotol. 23 (5): 767–71. doi:10.1097/00129492-200209000-00026. PMID 12218632.
4. Vrabec JT, Backous DD, Djalilian HR, et al. (April 2009). "Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0". Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 140 (4): 445–50. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2008.12.031. PMID 19328328.

External links

• The visual appearance of the defect is described here