Management of facial paralysis in temporal bone fractures: a prospective study analyzing 11 operated fractures

It is rarely possible to see the patients with traumatic facial paralysis in the early period and thus to perform ENoG in the critical 6 days after facial paralysis. HRCT, with the contribution of EMG and clinical judgment, has the greatest impact in decision making in patients seen late. On the basis of the facial outcomes observed in the present prospective surgical series, the recovery of satisfactory facial nerve function could be achieved, regardless of timing of surgery performed, within the first 3 months after the onset of paralysis. This study demonstrates that unless there is a disruption of the main trunk, necessitating primary end-to-end anastomosis or grafting, the type of injury does not have any clear effect on the facial outcome, as long as appropriate surgical management is applied.