Total facial nerve decompression: technique to avoid complications.

Exposure of the facial nerve from the brainstem to the parotid can be accomplished without injury to the nerve, tympanic membrane, external auditory canal, ossicular chain, inner ear or structures within the cerebello-pontine angle. The procedure has reliably provided good results for patients who have had the proper indications with facial paralysis from Bell's palsy, herpes zoster oticus, infection, hemi-facial spasm, temporal bone fracture and tumors. The current technique for exposure through the mastoid, middle cranial fossa and retrolabyrinthine combined approaches are described. This technique, properly performed, is a valuable treatment for facial nerve lesions.