Acta oto-laryngologica
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Acta oto-laryngologica · Jul 2001
Facial nerve paralysis in temporal bone fractures: outcomes after late decompression surgery.
The aim of this paper was to address some of the unanswered questions regarding management of facial nerve paralysis in temporal bone fractures (TBF), such as the outcomes after late facial nerve decompression surgery. The study design was a retrospective review of a consecutive clinical series. Thirteen patients who underwent late decompression surgery for facial nerve paralysis due to TBF involving the perigeniculate ganglion region were analyzed. ⋯ Normal or subnormal facial nerve function (HB 1 or HB 2) was achieved in 7/9 cases (78%) evaluated at > or = 1 year after surgery. Good functional results were also obtained in two patients operated on 3 months after trauma. Bases on the outcomes observed in the present series, in patients unable to be operated on early, presenting 1 to 3 months with >95% denervation on EnoG, facial nerve decompression may have a beneficial effect.