Tuesday, January 04, 2005

House Brackmann Scale - For Facial Paralysis

Here it is in black and white and full of subtle expression.

Grade
Definition

I
Normal symmetrical function in all areas.
II
Slight weakness noticeable only on close inspection. Complete eye closure with minimal effort. Slight asymmetry of smile with maximal effort. Synkinesis barely noticeable, contracture, or spasm absent.
III
Obvious weakness, but not disfiguring. May not be able to lift eyebrow. Complete eye closure and strong but asymmetrical mouth movement with maximal effort. Obvious, but not disfiguring synkinesis, mass movement or spasm.
IV
Obvious disfiguring weakness. Inability to lift brow. Incomplete eye closure and asymmetry of mouth with maximal effort. Severe synkinesis, mass movement, spasm.
V
Motion barely perceptible. Incomplete eye closure, slight movement corner mouth. Synkinesis, contracture, and spasm usually absent.
VI
No movement, loss of tone, no synkinesis, contracture, or spasm.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't be scared....!

I was somewhere between IV and V and to look at me now you'd hardly know it....took about 3 months and things went back to normal.

It's that blue rubberized head cover thingie that gives me away though!

Catherine

John Lalley said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
John Lalley said...

Tis true, aye.
I've seen Catherine's picture, and she looks A-OK.

John

John Lalley said...

Right on Kelly!
I heard good things about the dimple and am hoping that if I end up with one, I'll look like a young Kirk Douglas.