INJURIES TO NERVES FROM SURGICAL TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE FACE AND NECK

Abstract

Pain, spasm, salivation, paralysis or even death occurs from irritation or injury to certain nerves during operations on the face and neck. The symptoms may follow compression, tension, torsion or division of nerves during operation; secondary edema or inflammation involving the nerve trunks; or pressure by new connective tissue or new growths. From the irritation of the facial nerve, convulsive tic occurs; from the irritation of the accessory nerve, torticollis, and from the irritation of the sympathetic in the neck, myosis, flushing and excessive perspiration of the face occur. Compression or division of the seventh nerve leads to facial paralysis; of the hypoglossal nerve, to limited movement and hemiatrophy of the tongue. Irritation of the trifacial nerve may be followed by severe neuralgic pains, or tic douloureux; of the lingual nerve, paresthesia of the tongue, and salivation; of the cervical branches, neuralgic pain and paresthesia of the neck, ear and