Commentary on measuring assessment and outcome in peripheral facial palsy management and rehabilitation

Peripheral facial palsy can impact multiple aspects of an individual's life. It is essential that appropriate measurement and assessment tools are used when managing the impact and rehabilitation of peripheral facial palsy. This commentary critically appraises the methods and findings of a systematic review on diagnostic tools for peripheral facial paralysis, using an adapted Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. The systematic review achieved five of the 11 key criteria, with the main limitations being related to narrow search strategy, lack of clarity regarding abstract title and data extraction. It included 33 studies (typically small samples, from 8 to 128 participants). The Sunnybrook Facial Grading System had the strongest supporting evidence, showing good to excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. Evidence and guidance suggest that no single tool is sufficient and a panel of measures should be used within multidisciplinary management, including specialist nursing and therapy input.