Improved Facial Nerve Function in Infratemporal Skull Base Surgery

Abstract

At the recent meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in Washington, DC, John P. Leonetti and coinvestigators, Otologic Medical Group, Los Angeles, Calif, recently reported that facial nerve monitoring during infratemporal skull base surgery would lessen the risk of nerve injury. Their report emphasized the importance of intraoperative nerve monitoring during these procedures. Results in 15 monitored patients were compared with those in 23 unmonitored patients, all of whom required nerve rerouting. Immediate postoperative facial function was normal in 93% of monitored cases but only in 70% of unmonitored cases. More importantly, no patients in the monitored group developed grade V or grade VI weakness, while 48% of unmonitored cases experienced this unfavorable status. Careful rerouting during continuous acoustical facial electromyogram monitoring has resulted in improved preservation of facial nerve function following the infratemporal resection of skull base tumors.