Evaluation of Clinical Outcome in Traumatic Facial Nerve Paralysis

Abstract

Introduction The facial nerve is the most commonly paralyzed nerve in the human body, resulting in far-reaching functional, aesthetic and emotional concerns to the patient. Objective Evaluation of the clinical outcome of 47 patients with traumatic facial nerve paralyses, with respect to clinical recovery and audiological sequelae. Methods A descriptive longitudinal study was conducted over 24 months between January 2017 and December 2018 at a tertiary center with detailed clinical, topodiagnostic, audiometric and radiological evaluation and regular follow-up after discharge. Results Road traffic accidents constituted 82.98% of the trauma cases, out of which 76.60% were found to be under the influence of alcohol.Delayed facial paralysis was observed in 76.60% cases. Temporal bone fracture was reported in 89.36%, with otic capsule (OC) sparing fractures forming 91.49% of the cases. Topologically, the injury was mostly at the suprachordal region around the second genu. The majority of the patients (65%) attained full recovery of facial nerve function with conservative medical management. Audiometrically, 77.27% of the patients had hearing loss at the time of presentation, of which 64.71% were conductive in nature; 51.22% attained normal hearing at follow-up visits. Conclusion Early initiation of steroid therapy, concurrent eye care and physiotherapy are the cornerstones in the management of traumatic facial nerve paralysis.

Integrative Korean Medicine Treatments for Traumatic Facial Palsy Following Mandibular Fracture: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…The facial nerve travels long courses compared to those of other nerves and is distributed over a wide region of the face, which makes it vulnerable to head and face trauma due to road accidents, falls, etc. [ 1 , 2 ]. In addition, since the nerve distribution pattern varies for each individual, it is difficult to predict nerve travel during head and face surgery, which increases the likelihood of surgery-induced traumatic facial nerve injury [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Indications of and Efficacy of Facial Nerve Decompression Through Endoscopic Transcanal Approach for Patients with Traumatic Facial Paralysis

“…Traumatic facial paralysis is one of the most important causes of peripheral facial paralysis, accounting for about 17% of its incidence, second to Bell’s facial paralysis. 1 Temporal bone fracture is the main cause of traumatic facial paralysis, and the incidence of facial paralysis in such patients can reach 7-10%. 1 - 3…”

“… 1 Temporal bone fracture is the main cause of traumatic facial paralysis, and the incidence of facial paralysis in such patients can reach 7-10%. 1 - 3…”