[Palliative treatment of facial paralysis]

Facial nerve palsy disrupts both the static and dynamic equilibrium of the half-face involved. The imbalance worsens with age and senility further aggravates the situation. Palliative surgery can be used in complete intractable facial palsy or rarement for partial palsies or as a temporary treatment. The operation is proposed mostly for elderly patients and does not create other malformations or dysfunctions. Simple and effective reduction, cervicofacial lifting and plicature of the skin muscles is used with ocular protection (passive eyelid circle, lateral de-epidermalized skin flap, blepharorraphia) with or without use of locoregional tissues (orbito-naso-genial and labiogenial flaps) are usually sufficient.