[Paper Review] Bifacial weakness with paresthesias (BFP) secondary to trauma: a case report

Jingjing Chen, Xuxia Tang+2 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 6, 2026

Facial Nerve Paralysis Treatment and Research0 citations

TL;DR

This paper reports a case of bilateral facial nerve palsy with limb paresthesias after head trauma, diagnosed as Bifacial weakness with paresthesias (BFP), a rare GBS variant, and treated with plasma exchange with favorable recovery.

ABSTRACT

This case details the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with bilateral facial nerve palsy accompanied with limb sensory disturbance secondary to head trauma, who was ultimately diagnosed with Bifacial weakness with paresthesias (BFP) , a rare variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome(GBS) . The patient underwent plasma exchange therapy and showed favorable recovery . In this article, for the first time we report a case of BFP secondary to trauma.

Motivation & Objective

• Present a case of bilateral facial nerve palsy with limb paresthesias following head trauma.
• Describe the diagnostic process leading to BFP as a rare GBS variant.
• Report treatment with plasma exchange and subsequent clinical outcome.
• Highlight BFP secondary to trauma as a first reported instance.
• Discuss implications for recognition and management of trauma-associated BFP.

Proposed method

• Clinical case description detailing presentation after head trauma.
• Neurological examination confirming bilateral facial weakness and limb paresthesias.
• Diagnostic workup to classify BFP as a Guillain-Barré syndrome variant.
• Therapy with plasma exchange administered to the patient.
• Follow-up assessing recovery and outcome after treatment.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can BFP be precipitated by head trauma, and how is it diagnosed as a GBS variant?
• RQ2 What treatment is effective for BFP secondary to trauma, and what is the expected course of recovery?

Key findings

• The patient presented with bilateral facial nerve palsy and limb sensory disturbance after head trauma.
• Diagnosis established as Bifacial weakness with paresthesias (BFP), a rare GBS variant.
• Treatment with plasma exchange was employed and the patient showed favorable recovery.
• This case is reported as the first instance of BFP secondary to trauma.