Facial paralysis results in marked functional defect of facial expression and disconfiguration of face. Recently, traumatic facial nerve injury at its extracranial course is tend to increasing. Choice of proper management of facial palsy is mandatory in every´ case for restoration of facial expression.
We experienced 17 patients of facial nerve transection caused by extracranial trauma between Feb. 1984 and May 1990, and here present our practice managing this problem and ,,,the results.
The results were summarized as follows:
1) The most frequent etiology of facial palsy caused by extracranial trauma is car accident (53%) followed by stab wound(17%), iatrogenic surgical injury(12%), flame burn(12%), inevitable surgical resection (6%) .
2) The age range was 5 to 56 years., and the injuries is most frequent in the 3rd decade of life(41% ).
3) The total number of involved facial nerve branches were 21 in 17 patients and its distributions were as follows
Frontal branch (23%), Buccal branch(29%), Zygomatic branch (24%), Marginal mandibular branch (14% ).
4) The two basic types of surgical procedure were used to repair the transected facial nerve, In order of choice, they were (1) end to end anastomosis, 8 cases, (2) interpositional nerve graft, 2 cases. Surgical management had proven to be more successful in restoring facial function than conservative care in facial palsy caused by extracranial trauma.
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