Unilateral transient forehead paralysis following injury to the temporal branch of the facial nerve

Abstract

Restoration of motor function usually occurs without intervention, but may take several months. Should motor function not recur, nerve grafting of a repair of the ptotic brow may be needed. The anatomy of the nerve is reviewed and brow lifting options are discussed.

Recovery of Facial Nerve Paralysis After Temporal Nerve Reconstruction: A Case Report

“…The facial nerve is exposed to many traumatic injuries because of its superficial location; paralysis of the muscles of the brow and forehead are unfavorable complications ( 1 - 3 ). Also, there are some reports of iatrogenic causes of the temporal nerve injury due to craniofacial or dermatological surgery ( 4 - 6 ). Thus, the temporal area should be considered as a danger zone during the surgery of the face.…”

Postoperative evaluation after injury of the temporal branch of the facial nerve: a case report

“…However, in the present case, in which we treated a female patient who underwent suturing of the fissured temporal branch of the facial nerve that located beside the eyeball 25 days after the injury, we examined the findings of the injured nerve and evaluated the clinical and neurophysiological findings two-year postoperatively. Considering the predicted course of the temporal branch of the facial nerve, the location of the fissured nerve could be expected at two sites beside the eyebrow and beside the eyeball (2,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The fissured nerve beside the eyeball, which is a central site, was located in the loose areolar tissue under the temporoparietal superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) (2,9,12).…”

“…We performed surgery under a microscope 25 days after the injury and marked an outline based on the predicted course of the temporal branch of the facial nerve ( Fig. 2a) (2,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). We then made two incisions based on the predicted course of the nerve (Fig.…”

Direct brow lift for the correction of unilateral brow ptosis due to frontal branch injury following cutaneous surgery in the frontotemporal region

“…Following incomplete injury or stretching (neurapraxia), which can be differentiated neurophysiologically (by electromyography and electroneuronography) from complete division, regeneration usually occurs within six months. Spontaneous reinnervation is rare and delayed after complete nerve division, only occurring after 6–24 months . In order to wait for potential regeneration, corrective surgery should usually be done no sooner than six months after the onset of frontal branch paresis.…”