FACIAL NERVE TRAUMA

Course overview

FACIAL NERVE PALSY IS A COMMON PRESENTATION TO FAMILY DOCTORS, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, AND OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS. TRAUMA ACCOUNTS FOR 10% TO 23% OF ALL FACIAL NERVE PALSIES. IMPORTANTLY, FACIAL NERVE PALSY CARRIES IMPLICATIONS THAT AFFECT A PATIENT’S QUALITY OF LIFE. ALONGSIDE THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF FACIAL EXPRESSION, FACIAL NERVE PALSY CAN HAVE OPHTHALMOLOGICAL, OTOLOGICAL, RHINOLOGICAL, TASTE, AND SWALLOWING CONSEQUENCES. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE CAUSES OF FACIAL NERVE TRAUMA AND FOCUSES PARTICULARLY ON TEMPORAL BONE TRAUMA AS A CAUSE FOR FACIAL NERVE PALSY. IT DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, ANATOMY, ASSESSMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF TEMPORAL BONE FRACTURES. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR THE PATIENTS AFFLICTED WITH FACIAL NERVE PALSY SECONDARY TO TRAUMA. IT ALSO ADDRESSES THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR FACIAL NERVE PARALYSIS.