Management of traumatic lesions of the facial nerve.

Abstract

FACIAL paralysis is not commonly encountered today in the routine practice of otolaryngology. At one time in the history of this specialty, however, it was not uncommon after mastoidectomy, and it stimulated the constructive pioneering of Drobnik, 1 Korte, 2 Bunnell, 3 and Ballance and Duel, 4 on which the treatment of traumatic lesions of the facial nerve is founded. Fortunately, as the training in otolaryngology became better, the incidence of facial paralysis following mastoidectomy decreased and, with the advent of the sulfonamides and antibiotics, it was reduced to a relatively rare occurrence by the marked reduction in mastoid surgery. Nevertheless, injuries to the facial nerve still occur. Although facial palsy following surgical intervention on the mastoid process has largely been eliminated, its incidence due to other causes has increased. Some of these are the result of progress in our civilization. Trauma to the facial nerve following surgical procedures for