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Published on: May 5, 2020
Iatrogenic facial nerve palsy: lessons to learn
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia. asmaent@yahoo.com
Iatrogenic facial nerve palsy (FNP) after surgery, particularly mastoidectomy, often involves the second genu. Early surgical exploration and neurolysis lead to good facial nerve recovery.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Facial Nerve Surgery
Background:
- Iatrogenic facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a potential complication of head and neck surgeries.
- Management and outcomes of FNP require careful consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the management strategies for iatrogenic facial nerve palsy.
- To discuss the outcomes of patients who developed FNP post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 11 patients with iatrogenic FNP.
- Data collected from a tertiary center between June 1995 and September 2008.
- All cases were referred from other medical centers.
Main Results:
- Most FNP cases (10/11) resulted from mastoidectomy, with one from parotidectomy.
- The second genu was the most frequent site of injury (60%).
- Good facial nerve recovery (House Brackmann Grade I-III) was achieved in 9/10 surgically treated patients.
Conclusions:
- Surgical errors during mastoidectomy, particularly drilling near the antrum, are common causes of FNP.
- Prompt facial nerve exploration and neurolysis are crucial for successful recovery.
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