Entropion in children with isolated peripheral facial nerve paresis.

PURPOSE

Adults with facial nerve paresis (FNP) generally develop ectropion, but a recent report of children with syndromatic FNPs implies that entropion may be more common in this setting than ectropion. This study evaluates eyelid position and other periorbital changes in children with isolated, non-syndromatic FNP.

METHODS

Charts were reviewed of 10 sequential children who presented to a major national eye referral centre with isolated FNP of variable aetiology. Severity of FNP was assessed according to the House-Brackmann scale.

RESULTS

All 10 patients (4 males and 6 females; mean age at presentation, 4 years) had unilateral, isolated FNP. Mild lower-eyelid entropion was present in four patients, and severe lower-eyelid entropion required surgical correction in three patients. All patients had lower eyelid retraction (mean 2.3 mm) and lagophthalmos (mean 2.9 mm). None had enophthalmos, lower eyelid ectropion, or brow ptosis.

CONCLUSION

Unlike adults, children with isolated FNP seem prone to develop entropion rather than ectropion. Entropion reported previously in five syndromic children with FNP seems more likely related to patients' age than to their congenital syndromes.