Post traumatic facial paralysis--a review

A retrospective analysis of 23 cases of post-traumatic facial nerve injury has been done. Majority of the cases had a conductive or a mixed deafness. The Schirmer's test has been considered to be one of the main indicators to determine the site of injury. The mastoid segment of the facial nerve was found to be injured in 52% of the patients. The surgical approach in patients with post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis should be transmastoid. This can be combined with a middle fossa approach in patients with a positive Schirmer's test.