COMPARATIVE VALUE OF FACIAL-NERVE GRADING SYSTEMS

The Fisch Detailed Evaluation of Facial Symmetry (DEFS) and House-Brac kmann grading system (HBGS) were compared by statistical examination f or their reliability and interobserver variability, Furthermore, the c orrelation and agreement with a standard global evaluation were compar ed, Therefore 47 patients with facial palsy of different cause have be en evaluated with the two systems, and the global overall evaluation w as done by five otolaryngologists familiar with facial palsy, The DEFS showed a high reliability of 0.93 compared with a reliability of 0.77 with the HBGS (international standard requires a reliability of at le ast 0.8), The mean interobserver variability is 5.24% (SD = 3.2%) with the DEFS and 9.26% (SD = 5.0%) with the HBGS; with a confidence inter val of 95%, it is 11.6% and 19.26%, The correlation of both gradings w ith the global evaluation was high, with r = 0.98 and r = 0.97. The DE FS shows an excellent agreement with the global overall evaluation in 41 (87%) of 47 cases and the HBGS in 32 (66%) of 47 cases.