Facial Paralysis: Clinical Features, Management & Outcomes

The facial nerve is arguably one of the most important cranial nerves as its injury may result in not only the inability to produce voluntary facial expressions but also the loss of protective eyelid closure and glandular secretions. Facial nerve injuries present a multitude of serious problems for patients that may hugely impact their quality of life and general health including:: difficulties with eating or drinking, loss of articulate speech, ocular injury and significant psychosocial morbidity. This book examines clinical features, management and outcomes of facial paralysis. Chapters One and Two discusses the anatomy of the facial nerve, the possible causes of facial nerve palsy, how to assess and diagnose facial palsy, and reviews management options of facial paralysis. Chapter Three studies facial palsy in otitis media. Chapter Four discusses the association between the different techniques for achieving symmetry recovery in facial palsy patients. Chapter Five reviews the surgical management of static and dynamic rehabilitation of facial paralysis. Chapter Six assesses the clinical results of hemihypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HHFA).