Ischemic paralysis of the facial nerve: a possible etiologic factor in Bell's palsy.

Numerous causes of peripheral facial nerve paralyses have been described; however, none has satisfactorily explained the genesis of the most common type of paralysis, Bell's palsy. Two patients undergoing an experimental embolization of vascular intracranial tumors suffered a total peripheral facial nerve paralysis when occlusion of the middle meningeal artery had been accomplished. It is speculated that this paralysis resulted from ischemia of the horizontal portion of the facial nerve, an observation that has not previously been described and that might be applicable as well to the etiology of Bell's palsy.     

Continuous facial nerve monitoring during pleomorphic adenoma recurrence surgery

OBJECTIVES: Surgery of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) is known to lead to a high facial nerve complication rate. The efficacy of the continuous facial nerve monitoring (CFNM) technique remains to be proven in RPA surgery. The goal was thus to evaluate facial nerve palsy rates and the recovery period after parotidectomy for RPA using CFNM by way of continuous electromyography and to compare these rates and the operation time with those of patients who had undergone surgery without facial nerve monitoring. DESIGN: Cohort study. PATIENTS: Forty-seven patients were referred for RPA (1981-2003). Among them, 32 (18 unmonitored and 14 monitored) patients displayed no preoperative facial palsy, and histologic analyses revealed evidence of recurrence. The operation time and the extent and duration of postoperative facial nerve palsy were examined in both groups (monitored vs. unmonitored). Both groups had a similar clinical appearance distribution. RESULTS: Facial nerve paralysis was estimated using the House-Brackmann grading scale. CFNM reduced the intensity of facial nerve paralysis independently of the kind of surgery performed. The complete deficit rates were 0% for the monitored group and 5.6% for the unmonitored group. Postoperative facial nerve paralysis was significantly lower (P = .01) in the monitored group than in the unmonitored group. CFNM improved the duration of facial paralysis (P = .001) in the monitored group. The operation time was significantly lower in the monitored group than in the unmonitored group (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of CFNM during RPA surgery improves the surgical outcome. The facial nerve deficit can be reduced, and the recovery of facial nerve function is faster.     

What Really Decides the Facial Function of Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery?

Objectives

To find the main cause of facial nerve dysfunction in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery and review the prognosis of facial function in relation to tumor size, preoperative facial function and surgical approach.

Methods

We reviewed the surgical outcome of 134 patients with VS treated in our department between 1994 and 2008. All patients included in the study had postoperative facial paralysis after surgical management of their VS. There were 14 women and 7 men. The mean age was 48.5 years, with a mean follow-up period of 57 months.

Results

Twenty-one patients (sustained facial palsy, 4; newly developed facial palsy, 17) had facial nerve paralysis after surgery: ten patients in large VS and eleven patients in small VS. In large VS group, 4 patients had facial nerve function of HB grade II, 3 patients had HB grade III, and 3 patients had HB grade IV. In small VS group, 9 patients had HB grade II and 2 patients had HB grade IV. Middle cranial fossa approach rather than translabyrinthine approach for the preservation of hearing, led to facial nerve deterioration and the patients who had facial nerve paralysis perioperatively, had resulted in permanent facial paralysis.

Conclusion

The tumor size in VS is certainly one of the most important prognostic factors. However, VS tumor size alone should not be considered a unique prognostic indicator. The surgical approach used, which may be related to tumor size, based on the surgeon''s experience, can be a deciding factor, and the status of the facial nerve injured by the tumor can influence postoperative facial nerve function.     

Reanimation of the paralyzed face.

The challenge of reconstruction in the paralyzed face is to provide symmetry both at rest and in active expression. Although functional considerations must take precedence, the patient with unilateral facial palsy faces social stigmata that are exceptionally difficult. The best reconstructions in late paralyses fall far short of natural facial expression. Conley, one of the pioneers in facial nerve rehabilitation, reflected the frustration of dealing with limited techniques: It has been assumed by many surgeons that involuntary emotional communication is through the facial nerve, but this has never been substantiated. Indeed, emotional expression may be beyond our concept of a mere physical tract. It certainly has never been totally restored by any surgical technique that attempts to rehabilitate the face. When injury to the facial nerve is established, early nerve grafting on the ipsilateral side is the best treatment. In acoustic neuroma and other intracranial operations, the only real opportunity for grafting or repair is at the time of the procedure. If the nature of the injury is uncertain, a period of 12 months is allowed to elapse before consideration of intervention, which should be started if there is no return of function at that point. Electromyography may be of assistance in assessing minimal early return; if any early return is noted, further waiting is indicated. If there is no return at 1 year, cranial nerve XII to VII crossover will preserve facial muscle tone and permit a more measured decision-making approach. Patients with multiple cranial nerves involved may be candidates for a partial hypoglossal transfer using a nerve graft, to attempt to preserve swallowing. In selected cases, cross-facial nerve grafting to the preserved facial muscles will give excellent results and obviate the need for local or distant muscle transfers. When treating established paralysis of long duration, cross-facial nerve grafting with microneurovascular muscle transfer is the best option for symmetrical movement of the face. Temporalis and masseter muscle transfers should be reserved for the patient with intercurrent medical disease or the patient who refuses additional operations or operative sites. Static slings and other related procedures should be considered adjunctive but not primary treatment in the vast majority of cases. Although there are limitations in each of the procedures described, close cooperation between the otolaryngologist, the neurosurgeon, and the plastic surgeon can provide many patients with satisfactory rehabilitation from facial paralysis.     

Surgical management of Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVES: Incomplete return of facial motor function and synkinesis continue to be long-term sequelae in some patients with Bell's palsy. The aim of this report is to describe a prospective study in which a well-defined surgical decompression of the facial nerve was performed in a population of patients with Bell's palsy who exhibit the electrophysiologic features associated with poor outcomes. In addition, management issues related to Bell's palsy including herpes simplex virus typel etiology, the natural history, electrodiagnostic testing, and efficacy of surgical strategies are reviewed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective clinical trial was designed utilizing electroneurography (ENOG) and voluntary electromyography (EMG) to identify patients with Bell's palsy who would most likely develop poor return of facial function, as suggested by Fisch and Esslen. Patients who displayed electrodiagnostic features of poor outcome, >90% degeneration on ENOG testing and no voluntary motor unit EMG potentials within 14 days of onset of total paralysis, were offered a surgical decompression of the facial nerve through a middle cranial fossa surgical exposure, including the tympanic segment, geniculate ganglion, labyrinthine segment, and meatal foramen. Control subjects were those who displayed similar electrodiagnostic features and time course. RESULTS: Subjects who did not reach 90% degeneration on ENOG within 14 days of paralysis all returned to House-Brackmann grade I (n = 48) or II (n = 6) at 7 months after onset of the paralysis. Control subjects self-selecting not to undergo surgical decompression when >90% degeneration on ENOG and no motor unit potentials on EMG were identified had a 58% chance of developing a poor outcome at 7 months after onset of paralysis (House-Brackmann grade III or IV [n = 19]). A group with similar ENOG and EMG findings undergoing middle fossa facial nerve decompression exhibited House-Brackmann grade I (n = 14) or II (n = 17) in 91% of the cases. An exact permutation test confirmed that the surgical group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with a good outcome (House-Brackmann grade I or II) (P = .0002). CONCLUSION: Electroneurography in combination with voluntary EMG successfully identified patients who will most likely return to normal from those who had a greater chance of long-term sequelae from Bell's palsy. Surgical decompression medial to the geniculate ganglion significantly improves the chances of normal or near-normal return of facial function in the group that has a high probability of a poor result. Surgical decompression must be performed within 2 weeks of onset of total paralysis for it to be effective.     

Hypoglossal — facial nerve anastomosis: A review of forty cases caused by facial nerve injuries in the posterior fossa

Hypoglossal-facial anastomosis has been our procedure of choice in the repair of the permanently injured facial nerve in the cerebellopontine cistern, when the nerve cannot be primarily repaired. Total failures are few and complications are rare. Most results are good to excellent, if assessment is based upon realistic expectations. These include: 1. normal facial symmetry in repose, 2. good midface voluntary motion, 3. no reflex or emotional facial movement, 4. some synkinesis and donor-injected mass facial movement, and 5. surprisingly little functional loss from hypoglossal paralysis. Our experience indicates better results in younger patients and in those repairs completed shortly after injury. These findings correlate well with the experience gained in peripheral nerve repair in the extremities. There appears to be no absolute time period between injury and repair beyond which this anastomosis is definitely contraindicated. Finally, this procedure does not negate adjunctive plastic surgical procedures. Most of our patients have had tarsorrhaphy or physiologic protection of the eye, but few have had corrective cosmetic surgical procedures until the past few years. We have never used cervical sympathectomy to reduce the size of the palpebral fissure. Better surgical procedures to correct both extracranial and intratemporal facial nerve injuries have significantly reduced the indication for anatomosis procedures. Additionally, over the past two decades, the improved diagnostic and surgical techniques for posterior fossa tumors have considerably reduced the incidence of facial paralysis. As these trends continue, the number of patients requiring nerve anastomosis for facial paralysis will continue to decline and what was once the only surgical procedure to repair the paralyzed face will become a rare operation.     

Diagnostic and treatment of lesions of the facial nerve after fractures of the temporal bone

The authors review functional late results of 47 cases of facial palsies due to otobasal fracture by considering the clinical and electrophysiological test results, seen between 1983 and 1988. There were 36 longitudinal, 5 transversal and 6 combined temporal bone fractures. 5 patients suffered from a bilateral facial paralysis. In all cases, an electrodiagnostic examination was carried out in order to determine the pronosis and to indicate a surgical exploration. The electrodiagnostic consisted in electromyographie (EMG) and electroneuromyographie (ENoG). 36 patients got a medical treatment and 6 patients were treated by surgery. All facial nerve paralyses (n = 28), that were incomplete according to the clinical examination as well as the electrophysiological tests, received a medical treatment which lead to good functional late results without exception. 19 facial nerve paralyses seemed to be complete in clinical examination, but in 11 cases electrodiagnostic tests revealed a residual volontary electrical activity. This indicated a conservative therapy with 7 good (66%) and 4 (33%) fair results. So, no poor result had been found in this group. In the other 8 cases, 4 of which had a delayed onset of the paralysis, no electrocal activity could be proved. 4 patients were treated by surgery, and in 2 cases a complete facial nerve transection was found. The reconstruction of the facial nerve led to 1 good and to 1 satisfactory result. In the other 2 cases, the decompression lead to 1 good and to 1 poor late result. In these 4 cases the facial nerve had been completely decompressed, in a combined transmastoidal and enlarged transtemporal middle fossa approach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ear surgeon's tactics in temporal bone fractures with injury of the facial nerve and sound-conducting system]

Out of 486 patients with basilar skull fracture, 74 developed peripheral paralysis of the facial nerve (28 cases of early and 39 of late posttraumatic paralysis). 19 (67.8%) patients with early paralysis recovered function of the facial nerve, whereas only 9 (32.2%) with late paralysis were cured. Indications to surgical management of relevant paralyses are specified. Cases of one-stage tympanoplasty are described.     

Indications for surgery for Bell's palsy

Transmastoid surgical decompression of the facial nerve was found to have no positive effect in recovery from facial nerve function in patients with Bell's palsy. Since the risks of such surgery are greater than the benefits, this procedure should not be performed on patients with Bell's palsy unless a tumor is suspected. A mass lesion is suspected if there is complete paralysis and loss of response to evoked electromyography within the first 2 weeks after onset of the palsy or if there is recurrent facial paralysis on the same side. Rehabilitation surgical procedures should be reserved for patients with acute Bell's palsy with keratitis unresponsive to medical therapy or for those seen late in the course of the disease to correct undesirable sequelae.     

Total facial nerve decompression in recurrent facial paralysis and the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: a preliminary report

Recurrent facial paralysis is an infrequent problem for the otolaryngologist. This paralysis may be associated with the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, a triad of recurrent facial paralysis, relapsing facial edema, and associated fissured tongue. Most patients do not have the accompanying stigmata of this syndrome. This paralysis may occur unilaterally or bilaterally. The usual sequelae of recurrent facial paralysis are progressive synkinesis and increasing residual paresis with each episode, and total facial paralysis may be the final outcome. Two patients, one with unilateral Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and the other with a bilateral recurrent idiopathic facial paralysis, were treated with combined transmastoid and middle cranial fossa total facial nerve exposure, decompression, and slitting of the fibrous nerve sheath. Postoperatively they have not suffered from facial paralysis during a follow-up period of three years. It appears that this surgical management safely and effectively prevents recurrent facial paralysis unilaterally or bilaterally, whether or not it is associated with the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Until further experience with this particular management of recurrent facial paralysis is reported, however, caution should be used in recommending it. Additionally, it should not be assumed from this experience that surgical treatment for idiopathic facial paralysis in Bell's palsy is necessarily implied.     

Functional and electromyographic long-term results following primary microsurgical repair of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

Six patients with unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis underwent phoniatric follow-up after neurolysis or primary microsurgical repair of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Four patients were controlled by electromyography of the vocal muscle 14 to 80 months post-operatively. In six patients the paralyzed vocal cords were in median to paramedian position with sustained muscle tonus. Phoniatric parameters were found to be close to the average range in healthy persons. EMG findings indicated degenerative neurogenous paralyses in two patients, signs of reinnervation in another. In one case biphasic action potentials could be recorded.     

Facial paralysis caused by malignant skull base neoplasms

OBJECT: Bell palsy remains the most common cause of facial paralysis. Unfortunately, this term is often erroneously applied to all cases of facial paralysis. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective review of data obtained in 11 patients who were treated at a university-based referral practice between July 1988 and September 2001 and who presented with acute facial nerve paralysis mimicking Bell palsy. All patients were subsequently found to harbor an occult skull base neoplasm. A delay in diagnosis was demonstrated in all cases. Seven patients died of their disease, and four patients are currently free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although Bell palsy remains the most common cause of peripheral facial nerve paralysis, patients in whom neoplasms invade the facial nerve may present with acute paralysis mimicking Bell palsy that fails to resolve. Delays in diagnosis and treatment in such cases may result in increased rates of mortality and morbidity.     

Evaluation of Greater Petrosal Nerve Function in Patients with Acute Peripheral Facial Paralysis: Comparison of Soft Palate Electrogustometry and Schirmer's Tear Test

We tested sensory and secretomotor function of the greater petrosal nerve (GPN) by means of electrogustometry (EGM) of the soft palate and Schirmer's tear test in 115 patients (59 males, 56 females) with acute peripheral facial paralysis. Facial paralysis was caused by Bell's palsy in 78 cases, Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 27 cases and zoster sine herpetic lesions in 10. All patients had dysfunction of the stapedial nerve. An electrogustometer was used to test taste (GPN sensory function), and elevation of the threshold by > 6 dB on the affected side was considered abnormal. Schirmer's test was used to evaluate lacrimal (GPN secretomotor) function, which was considered abnormal when tear secretion on the affected side was < 50% of secretion on the non-affected side. Of the 78 patients with Bell's palsy, 28.2% had altered taste on the soft palate (sensory dysfunction) and 10.3% had lacrimal dysfunction, indicating that EGM of the soft palate is more sensitive than Schirmer's test for identifying dysfunction of the GPN in patients with facial paralysis due to Bell's palsy. Of the total of 115 patients, 32 (28%) had taste dysfunction and 9 (28.1%) of these 32 patients also had lacrimal dysfunction. This finding indicates that facial paralysis has different effects on the sensory and secretory nerve fibers of the GPN. The results of Schirmer's test were more closely related to the severity of, and prognosis for, facial paralysis than the results of EGM.     

Bell's palsy: delayed recovery after one year with surgical confirmation

An instance of Bell's palsy with complete flaccid peripheral facial paralysis at one year with surgical confirmation by total facial nerve decompression and incision of the intratemporal facial nerve sheath confirmation is presented. This individual, with a most unusual duration of total facial paralysis in an instance of Bell's palsy, nevertheless developed eventual recovery typical of the delayed recovery from Bell's palsy, with considerable improvement in facial symmetry at rest, eyelid closure, and facial motion.     

Oculoplastic surgical techniques for protection of the eye in facial nerve paralysis

OBJECTIVE: To describe an algorithm for medical and surgical management of corneal exposure secondary to seventh cranial nerve paresis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 54 patients requiring surgical intervention for seventh cranial nerve paresis was performed. SETTING: Patients underwent outpatient procedures at a tertiary care facility. RESULTS: 31 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 55.7 years, were included in this study. They included 45 patients with involvement of the facial nerve at the time of surgery, 3 with inflammatory processes, 2 with central palsies, 1 with a traumatic paralysis, and 3 with idiopathic palsies. All 54 patients were treated both medically and surgically. Fifty-two patients underwent gold weight placement, and 39 patients underwent surgical repositioning of their lower eyelids; 24 of those patients had supplemental ear cartilage grafts inserted as well. Five patients had brow ptosis repairs, and 13 had tarsorrhaphies (9 temporary and 4 permanent). Twelve patients had confluent epithelial defects of >50% of their corneal surface, and 33 patients had smaller disruptions of their corneal epithelium. Three patients had minor complications secondary to surgical intervention. Thirty-seven patients had isolated seventh nerve palsies, and 17 patients also had fifth nerve pareses affecting their ocular surfaces. The average preoperative lagophthalmos was 6.3 mm, and the average postoperative lagophthalmos after all ocular procedures was 1.6 mm. The mean follow-up time was 19.7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment options for seventh cranial nerve deficits are reviewed. A decision-making process for the treatment steps is proposed and analyzed.     

Petrous bone cholesteatoma: clinical longitudinal study

The object of this retrospective study was to describe a series of patients with petrous bone cholesteatomas, paying particular attention to classification, diagnosis, surgical strategy, results, complications and recurrences. Furthermore, the study was designed to evaluate the impact of imaging techniques on an early diagnosis. Topographically, the petrous bone cholesteatomas of the present series were grouped using Sanna's classification and different surgical approaches were used. High resolution CT and/or MRI were used to follow-up the patients. The case notes of 52 patients with petrous bone cholesteatomas who were referred to our hospital for surgery between 1987 and 2003 were reviewed postoperatively. There were 45 primary cases and 7 recurrences. The facial nerve had been infiltrated and compressed by the cholesteatoma in 18 patients. Fourteen were managed with cable grafts using sural nerve or great auricular nerves. About 26 patients with preoperative grade I confirmed their normal facial function in 23 cases. In the other ten patients, the preoperative facial paralysis was due to compression by the cholesteatoma and its removal provided partial recovery of facial function in four patients. Our study compared two observation periods (1987-1996 and 1997-2003) when the diffusion and the availability of imaging techniques in our national health system had considerably increased. Two important factors emerged: firstly, the number of less extensive surgical approaches was higher in the more recent observation period, proving that cholesteatomas smaller in size had been diagnosed. Secondly, preoperative facial paralysis was less frequent in the same period-falling to 25% of cases of total facial paralysis from the 45.8% of the earlier period-practically half as much. The partial paralyses instead increased slightly, demonstrating that otologists have become more sensitive to and pay more attention to this symptom.     

Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression in Bell's palsy: A pilot study

PurposeTo explore the surgical effects of endoscopic facial nerve decompression in Bell's palsy.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 15 patients with Bell's palsy. All had grade VI (House-Brackmann grading system) complete unilateral facial paralysis before surgery and a >95% reduction in amplitude on electroneurography testing compared to the unaffected side. Their MRI results indicated perineural edema in the geniculate ganglion area. Endoscopic decompression surgery was performed soon after they presented at our hospital. The time between onset of facial paralysis and surgery ranged from 25 to 93 days. All patients had no relevant surgical history or ear diseases.ResultsAt 1-year follow-up, 13 of the 15 (87%) patients had recovered to normal or near-normal facial function (House-Brackmann grade I-II), and all patients had reached House-Brackmann grade III or lower facial function. No obvious air-bone gap or sensorineural hearing loss occurred after surgery, and there were no severe complications or synkinesis.ConclusionsEndoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression provides a less traumatic and improved exposure of the geniculate ganglion, and may also help prevent permanent severe facial sequela. Results of intraoperative facial nerve stimulation may be related to the length of time required for recovery. The optimal time of surgery after onset of paralysis needs to be investigated further, to identify a post-drug surgical therapy which may be more acceptable for patients. Patients' response to conservative treatments should be assessed as soon as possible so as not to delay surgery.     

Zur Klinik und Therapie des extratemporalen Fazialisneurinoms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Extratemporal facial nerve neurinomas are rare. In the present study, the epidemiology, clinical presentation and in particular surgical treatment of this entity was analysed under special focus on facial nerve preservation. PATIENTS/METHODS: 22 patients with an extratemporal facial nerve neurinoma of the parotid gland, treated at the University-ENT-Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf during 1977-1997 were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients presented with a unilateral parotid mass, on ultrasound examination regularly an encapsulated intraparotideal tumor. 16 patients (72.7%) had regular facial nerve functioning. 6 patients (27.3%) with partial or complete peripheral facial nerve paralysis were treated with partial or radical parotidectomy because of malignancy possibility. In the group of patients with intact facial nerve, latero-facial (superficial) parotidectomy with segmental nerve resection was undertaken in 9 cases (56.3%) because nerve-continuity was not siezable within the tumor area. In 7 cases (43.7%), tumor-enucleation was feasable with complete nerve preservation. Intraoperative frozen section in a total of 4 (18.2%) patients always showed the correct histopathological diagnosis. No tumor-recurrence was observed in the 15 cases (68.6%) which underwent follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In case of extratemporal neurinoma of the parotid gland, preparation of the facial nerve during surgery is often impossible, leading to segmental nerve resections. This decision, however, is made without proof for malignancy. In recognition of the biological behaviour of this entity the authors recommend that after tumor exploration a biopsy should be taken from the periphery of the tumor to exclude malignancy. After diagnosis of a neurinoma a nerve preserving (wait-and-see) approach appears justified.     

Evaluation of greater petrosal nerve function in patients with acute peripheral facial paralysis: comparison of soft palate electrogustometry and Schirmer's tear test

We tested sensory and secretomotor function of the greater petrosal nerve (GPN) by means of electrogustometry (EGM) of the soft palate and Schirmer's tear test in 115 patients (59 males, 56 females) with acute peripheral facial paralysis. Facial paralysis was caused by Bell's palsy in 78 cases, Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 27 cases and zoster sine herpetic lesions in 10. All patients had dysfunction of the stapedial nerve. An electrogustometer was used to test taste (GPN sensory function), and elevation of the threshold by > 6 dB on the affected side was considered abnormal. Schirmer's test was used to evaluate lacrimal (GPN secretomotor) function, which was considered abnormal when tear secretion on the affected side was < 50% of secretion on the non-affected side. Of the 78 patients with Bell's palsy, 28.2% had altered taste on the soft palate (sensory dysfunction) and 10.3% had lacrimal dysfunction, indicating that EGM of the soft palate is more sensitive than Schirmer's test for identifying dysfunction of the GPN in patients with facial paralysis due to Bell's palsy. Of the total of 115 patients, 32 (28%) had taste dysfunction and 9 (28.1%) of these 32 patients also had lacrimal dysfunction. This finding indicates that facial paralysis has different effects on the sensory and secretory nerve fibers of the GPN. The results of Schirmer's test were more closely related to the severity of, and prognosis for, facial paralysis than the results of EGM.     

A comparative study of age and degree of facial nerve recovery in patients with Bell’s palsy

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there is any relationship between the age of a patient and the degree of facial nerve recovery in patients with Bell’s palsy. Between 1987 and 1995 250 patients with peripheral idiopathic facial nerve palsy were examined at the ENT Clinic of the University of Ioannina. In this group 134 were male and 116 were female. The patients’ ages ranged from 4 to 80 years and had an average of 47.7 years. The average age of the male patients was 46.5 years and that of the female patients was 49.1 years. In the overall group of 250 patients 129 presented with a paralysis of the right facial nerve and 121 on the left. There was no case of bilateral palsies. When comparing the age of the patients and the degree of recovery, measuring age was associated with a decrease in complete recovery. While the percentage of complete recovery between age 4 and 50 years varied from 83% to 74%, respectively, the percentage of complete recovery decreased to less than 54% at age 80. Our results show that the age of the patient is a very important factor for facial nerve recovery. Received: 22 October 1998 / Accepted: 27 February 1999