Long-term Outcomes After Middle Fossa Approach for Traumatic Facial Nerve Paralysis.

OBJECTIVES

Controversy exists regarding the role of surgery for patients with skull base trauma and facial paralysis. Our goal is to report the long-term outcomes of early facial nerve decompression and repair via the middle fossa (MF) approach for patients with traumatic paralysis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

PATIENTS

There were 18 patients who met surgical criteria: immediate complete paralysis, greater than 90% degeneration on electroneurography (ENoG), and no voluntary electromyography (EMG) potentials within 14 days after trauma and 1 year minimum follow-up.

INTERVENTION

MF approach for traumatic facial paralysis and for irreversible injuries nerve grafting was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Long-term facial function, hearing results, and surgical complications.

RESULTS

At MF decompression, 11 patients had an anatomically intact facial nerve. Of these patients with intact nerves, 72.7% obtained normal to near normal facial function (HB I or II) at 1 year: 27.3% to HB I, 45.5% to HB II, and 27.3% to HB III. At surgery, seven patients were found to have injuries that required nerve grafting and 100% improved to HB III. For all patients, facial nerve function significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.01). The average difference in pure tone average and word recognition after surgery was +2.9 dB and +3.3%, respectively (p = 0.44; p = 0.74). Minor, transient complications occurred in three patients and an abscess required drainage in one patient, but no other major complications.

CONCLUSION

In our series, all patients with traumatic complete paralysis and poor facial prognosis achieved a long-term outcome of HB III or better after MF approach for decompression and repair of the facial nerve.