What do systematic reviews say?

Early surgery vs late surgery

It is very uncertain whether early surgery changes complete recovery of facial nerve function at 12 months Defined as:… compared with late surgery (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.47 [0.03, 6.6]
  1 study · 26 participants
  Very low

Early surgery vs late surgery

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 26 participants
  GRADE not reported

Surgery for Bell's palsy vs medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether surgery for Bell's palsy changes complete recovery of facial nerve function at 12 months Defined as:… compared with medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Very low

Surgery for Bell's palsy vs medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether surgery for Bell's palsy changes side effects and complications of treatmentMeasured by clinical… compared with medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Very low

Absorbable vs non‐absorbable sutures

• Absorbable versus non‐absorbable sutures for skin closure after carpal tunnel decompression surgery 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 137 participants
  Very low
• Absorbable versus non‐absorbable sutures for skin closure after carpal tunnel decompression surgery 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 54 participants
  Very low