Resident & Fellow Section
Featured Commentaries
-
May 23 | Video e-Pearl | Bell’s Palsy: Lower Motor Neuron Pattern Facial Weakness
e-Pearls archive | Video e-Pearls archive |Submit an e-Pearl
Case Description
An 80-year-old man with HTN, HLD, and T2DM developed left facial droop and difficulty closing his eye over 1-2 days. Exam revealed inability to smile, raise his eyebrow, or fully close his eye (Video). Other cranial nerves and exam were normal. Brain MRI (to evaluate for brainstem stroke and structural lesions) and serum workup were negative, consistent with Bell’s palsy. The upper face receives innervation from bilateral hemispheres whereas the lower face is supplied by contralateral motor cortex only.1 Lower motor neuron cranial nerve VII lesions demonstrate upper and lower facial weakness whereas upper motor neuron lesions spare the forehead. The House-Brackmann scale can be used to grade severity and guide management.2
References
-
Berkowitz A. Clinical neurology and neuroanatomy: A Localization-based approach. Lange McGraw Hill: 2017.
-
House JW, Brackmann DE. Facial nerve grading system. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1985;93(2):146-7. doi:10.1177/019459988509300202
Submitted by: Galina Gheihman, MD, Resident Physician, Mass General Brigham Neurology Program, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Baris Alten, MD, PhD, Resident Physician, Mass General Brigham Neurology Program, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Marcelo Matiello, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Alten and Dr. Matiello report no disclosures. Dr. Gheihman is a Neurology Resident & Fellow Section Editorial Board Member, 2021-2024.
-
Latest Articles
- Resident & Fellow SectionFuture of Neurology & Technology: Neuroimaging Made Accessible Using Low-Field, Portable MRINethra R. Parasuram, Anna L. Crawford, Mercy H. Mazurek, et al.Neurology January 31, 2023
- Resident & Fellow SectionTeaching NeuroImage: Primary CNS Vasculitis Mimicking Intracranial TumorHanlin Sun, Shujiang Zhang, Tianping Yu, et al.Neurology February 07, 2023
- Resident & Fellow SectionPearls & Oy-sters: Harnessing New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches to Treat a Patient With Genetic Drug-Resistant Focal EpilepsyAafreen Khan, Erik H. Middlebrooks, Pradeep Javarayee, et al.Neurology January 25, 2023
- Resident & Fellow SectionClinical Reasoning: Adult Patient Presenting With Spine Pain Following a Motor Vehicle AccidentVaishnavi Sharma, Oscar SotoNeurology January 31, 2023
-
Browse by Subcategory
All Subcategory Descriptions
- Bridging the Gap
- Child Neurology
- Clinical Reasoning
- Education Research
- e-Pearls
- Emerging Subspecialties in Neurology
- International Issues
- Journal Club
- Media and Book Reviews
- Mystery Cases
- Opinion & Special Articles
- Pearls & Oy-sters
- Residency Training
- Right Brain
- Teaching NeuroImage
- Teaching Video NeuroImage
-
Meet the Resident & Fellow Team
Learn more about our Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) team members!
Join the Neurology Resident & Fellow Editorial Team – Apply by July 15, 2023
The Neurology Resident & Fellow Editors are seeking neurology residents to serve a three-year term as Editorial Team members for the section. Responsibilities begin September 2023 and include manuscript review, assistance in writing manuscripts, recruiting others to write manuscripts, generating ideas for the section, and participation in monthly conference calls. Residents from accredited neurology training programs anywhere in the world are invited to apply.
Your Artwork Could be on the Cover of Neurology: Clinical PracticeSubmit your original digital image by June 1 for a chance to have your artwork featured on a remaining 2023 cover of Neurology: Clinical Practice! Submissions received after will be considered for 2024 covers.
-
Resources
- Complete Archives
- R&F Publications
- Resident & Fellow Writing Award
- AAN Information for Residents and Fellows
Dr. David E. Vaillancourt and Dr. Shannon Y. Chiu
► Watch
- Neurology PodcastDr. Jeff Ratliff talks with Prof. Andrew Siderowf about the assessment of heterogeneity among participants in the Parkinson progression markers initiative cohort using α-synuclein seed amplification. May 30, 2023.Neurology, Journal, Podcast