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Recurrent facial nerve palsy: the role of surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2010

J Doshi  and
R Irving
J Doshi*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
R Irving
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Jayesh Doshi, ENT Department, c/o Mr Irving's Secretary, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK. Fax: +44 (0)121 627 2291 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Repeated episodes of acute idiopathic facial paralysis present both a diagnostic and a management dilemma. We discuss these issues with reference to four adult cases managed between 1999 and 2008, thus adding to the sparse literature on this subject. For such cases, our unit performs decompression of geniculate, labyrinthine and meatal segments of the facial nerve via a middle fossa approach. A short video, available on The Journal of Laryngology & Otology website, demonstrates the key stages of the operation.

We believe there is a role for surgical decompression in cases of recurrent acute facial weakness with three or more documented episodes, especially in the presence of progressive deterioration in function. Decompression of the geniculate, labyrinthine and meatal segments, via a middle fossa approach, is our favoured technique, and has achieved good results.

Keywords

Facial NerveDecompression, SurgicalFacial Paralysis
Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 11 , November 2010 , pp. 1202 - 1204
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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Footnotes

Presented orally at the XI Facial Nerve Symposium, Rome 25–28 April 2009, Rome, Italy, and at the Politzer Meeting, London 3–5 September 2009, London, UK.

References

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