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Updated: Sep 12, 2026
Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Targeted Surgical Decompression Reduces the Morbidity of Recurrent Inflammatory Facial Nerve Palsy
Katherine Pollaers1, Peter Monksfield, Richard Irving
1Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, UK.
Objective:
To describe the clinical outcomes following facial nerve decompression for recurrent facial nerve weakness.
Study Design:
Retrospective case series.
Setting:
Quaternary referral centre.
Patients:
Patients who underwent elective surgical decompression of the facial nerve for recurrent paralysis.
Interventions:
Retrospective observational study.
Main Outcome Measures:
Days per year with facial nerve weakness.
Results:
Sixteen of 17 decompressed nerves derived benefit, with mean facial nerve weakness reduced from 56 days/year to 4 days/year.
Conclusions:
Surgery is a reasonable option, with high success rates, for selected cases with evidence of facial motor dysfunction and 3 or more episodes of ipsilateral facial nerve weakness secondary to recurrent idiopathic Bell's palsy or Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome.
