The causes of facial paralysis include trauma, idiopathic cause, Inflammation, tumor and metabolic disorder, etc. Deformities due to facial paralysis can be distressing to the person afflicted with facial nerve paralysis. The reconstructive
techniques
for facial paralysis are nerve anastomosis, nerve rerouting, nerve decompression, nerve grafting, fascial suspension, muscle transfer and muscle transplantation with microneurovascular anastomosis, etc, the choice of treatment for facial
paralysis
is
dependent on the detailed analysis of etiology, degree, prognosis and rate of progression of deformity, as well as on the usual evaluation of the patient's age, sex and general health. The goal of the treatment is not only to make normal and
symmetrical
morphology but also to obtain facial expression with minimal morbidity of other structures. Indications for temporalis muscle transfer to activate the paralyzed face are ; 1) when the muscles are mostly absent, 2) when the muscles have
degenerated,
3)
when suturing or grafting the facial nerve is impossible and 4) when the innervation via the fifth cranial nerve to the temporalis muscle is intact. The authers treated a patient with permanent facial paralysis using temporalis muscle
transposition, and
obtained the satisfactory result, so reported with some review of literatures. (Korean J Otolaryngol 39 : 1, 1996)
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