Clinical and experimental correlations in temporal bone fracture: the facial nerve

In this review of 50 patients with fracture of the temporal bone, 11 patients had ipsilateral facial paralysis, three of immediate and eight of delayed onset. Eight patients with complete paralysis of the facial nerve had facial nerve decompression; six of these had incomplete return of function. Only one patient with a delayed complete facial paralysis had complete return of function. The poor functional results in patients with delayed complete facial paralysis due to temporal bone fracture encourage facial nerve decompression in all stable patients with the complete facial paralysis of temporal bone fracture.