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Published on: May 5, 2020
Surgical management of facial nerve paralysis in the pediatric population
Jason S Barr1, Karin A Katz, Alexes Hazen
1Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Insights
Pediatric seventh cranial nerve palsy presents unique surgical challenges due to patient size and diagnosis rarity. Current techniques aim for functional and cosmetic restoration, but an ideal procedure is still under development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Cranial nerve disorders
- Facial reanimation
Background:
- Pediatric seventh cranial nerve palsy (facial paralysis) is complex due to small patient size and infrequent diagnosis.
- The functional and aesthetic deficits significantly impact children and their families, necessitating prompt treatment.
- Surgical management requires specialized proficiency due to these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current surgical management of pediatric facial paralysis.
- To provide an overview of therapeutic facial reanimation techniques for children.
Main Methods:
- A literature search was conducted using PubMed.
- The search focused on identifying current surgical management strategies for pediatric facial paralysis.
Main Results:
- A variety of surgical techniques have been employed for pediatric facial paralysis.
- An ideal reconstructive procedure addressing all functional and cosmetic needs has not yet been established.
- Future innovations are expected to improve facial muscle emulation.
Conclusions:
- Surgical intervention necessity for pediatric facial nerve palsy varies based on defect nature and severity.
- Review of surgical procedures offers insights into therapeutic facial reanimation.
- Ongoing research aims to enhance reconstructive outcomes for pediatric facial paralysis.
Background:
In the pediatric patient population, both the pathology and the surgical managements of seventh cranial nerve palsy are complicated by the small size of the patients. Adding to the technical difficulty is the relative infrequency of the diagnosis, thus making it harder to become proficient in the management of the condition. The magnitude of the functional and aesthetic deficits these children manifest is significantly troubling to both the patient and the parents, which makes immediate attention, treatment, and functional restoration essential.
Methods:
A literature search using PubMed (http://www.pubmed.org) was undertaken to identify the current state of surgical management of pediatric facial paralysis.
Results:
Although a multitude of techniques have been used, the ideal reconstructive procedure that addresses all of the functional and cosmetic needs of these children has yet to be described. Certainly, future research and innovative thinking will yield progressively better techniques that may, one day, emulate the native facial musculature with remarkable precision.
Conclusion:
The necessity for surgical intervention in children with facial nerve paralysis differs depending on many factors including the acute/chronic nature of the defect as well as the extent of functional and cosmetic damage. In this article, we review the surgical procedures that have been used to treat pediatric facial nerve paralysis and provide therapeutic facial reanimation.
