Keywords: Facial nerve, facial paralysis

Abstract: We retrospectively studied 63patients with recurrent peripheral facial palsy (RPFP). All these patients were evaluated in the ENT Department of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo during the period of 1,987 to 1993. The patients with tumors were excluded of this study. There was a prevalence of females (64%). The average age of the first on set of peripheric facial palsy was 25,3 years. Seven years was the mean time forthe first recurrence. The recorrente occurred in the same side in 46% and alternated sides in 54%. Hypertension $elas observed in 15,8% and diabetes mellitus was present in 6,3%. In 10% of the paceents there was a positive family history of RPFP.