Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T18:31:39.137Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The surgical management of bilateral facial paralysis: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2018

A Hardy ,
J Muzaffar ,
R Kumar  and
R Irving
A Hardy*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham, UK
J Muzaffar
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham, UK
R Kumar
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham, UK
R Irving
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Alistair Hardy, Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B16 2GW, UK E-mail: alihardy13@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Unilateral total facial palsy is a debilitating condition that can affect an individual's physical, social and emotional wellbeing. When this occurs bilaterally, the severity of impact is extreme, with significant cosmetic disfigurement and functional morbidity. A variety of facial reanimation techniques have been used for unilateral facial weakness of varying House–Brackmann grades, and these are also applicable in bilateral cases. In bilateral cases, it is difficult to gauge successful improvement in comparison to the contralateral side, which also is afflicted.

Case report

This paper presents our experience with a bilateral facial paralysis patient who had a complex otological history. The patient, who presented with bilateral debilitating grade VI facial palsy, achieved a good result from bilateral facial reanimation with sequential hypoglossal–facial anastomosis. This is considered a reasonable option in cases of bilateral facial paralysis.

Keywords

AnastomosisSurgicalFacial ParalysisHypoglossal NerveFacial Nerve
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 9 , September 2018 , pp. 842 - 845
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Mr A Hardy takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

1Körte, W. A case of nerve grafting of the facial nerve to the hypoglossal nerve [in German]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1903;17:293–5Google Scholar
2Mohamed, A, Omi, E, Honda, K, Suzuki, S, Ishikawa, K. Outcome of different facial nerve reconstruction techniques. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2016;82:702–9Google Scholar
3Han, JH, Suh, MJ, Kim, JW, Cho, HS, Moon, IS. Facial reanimation using hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis after schwannoma removal. Acta Otolaryngol 2017;137:99–105Google Scholar
4May, M, Sobol, S, Mester, S. Hypoglossal-facial nerve interpositional-jump graft for facial reanimation without tongue atrophy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1991;104:818–25Google Scholar
5Beutner, D, Luers, JC, Grosheva, M. Hypoglossal-facial-jump-anastomosis without an interposition nerve graft. Laryngoscope 2013;123:2392–6Google Scholar
6Guntinas-Lichius, O, Streppel, M, Stennert, E. Postoperative functional evaluation of different reanimation techniques for facial nerve repair. Am J Surg 2006;191:61–7Google Scholar