Cross-face Nerve Transplantation for Traumatic Facial Palsy : A Case Report

Abstract

We report a case of traumatic facial palsy that was treated successfully by cross-face nerve transplantation. A 16-year-old female was injured by motor cycle accident. She showed severe left facial palsy accompanied with the petrous bone fracture. At first, she was treated conservatively by facial massage, but her symptom didn't improve at all. She underwent cross-face nerve transplantation for her facial palsy 3 months after the injury. Her symptom improved rapidly 6 months after the operation. She regained facial muscle tone and voluntary movement gradually, and emotionally-induced spontaneous movement was evident by 12 months after the operation. Cross-face nerve transplantation has an advantage in restoration of emotional facial movement, though requiring considerable surgery and a long delay in reinnervation. This procedure is useful in the treatment of facial palsy especially in young patients who have a symptom of short duration.