OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of facial, vestibular, and cochlear nerve avulsion secondary to blunt trauma without an associated temporal bone fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical capsule report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT: A 3.5-year-old girl presented with immediate facial nerve paralysis and complete deafness after being struck by an automobile. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated a depressed occipital bone fracture with no visible fracture of the temporal bone. Magnetic resonance imaging sequence raised the question of VIIth nerve bundle discontinuity at the distal end of the internal auditory canal. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent a posterior fossa craniotomy via a translabyrinthine approach 9 months after the initial injury, and facial and auditory nerve avulsion at the fundus was confirmed at the time of surgery. The proximal segment of the facial nerve had formed a traumatic neuroma, which was resected, and primarily anastomosed to the rerouted distal segment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Facial nerve function. RESULTS: Patient has regained facial function to Grade III/VI House-Brackmann with no asymmetry at rest. CONCLUSION: An unusual pattern of injury is described. We suggest that in patients presenting with facial nerve paralysis secondary to blunt trauma, without an associated temporal bone fracture, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging is recommended to evaluate internal auditory canal discontinuity of the VIIth and VIIIth nerve complexes. A potential mechanism of avulsion is explained.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of facial, vestibular, and cochlear nerve avulsion secondary to blunt trauma without an associated temporal bone fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical capsule report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT: A 3.5-year-old girl presented with immediate facial nerve paralysis and complete deafness after being struck by an automobile. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated a depressed occipital bone fracture with no visible fracture of the temporal bone. Magnetic resonance imaging sequence raised the question of VIIth nerve bundle discontinuity at the distal end of the internal auditory canal. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent a posterior fossa craniotomy via a translabyrinthine approach 9 months after the initial injury, and facial and auditory nerve avulsion at the fundus was confirmed at the time of surgery. The proximal segment of the facial nerve had formed a traumatic neuroma, which was resected, and primarily anastomosed to the rerouted distal segment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Facial nerve function. RESULTS:Patient has regained facial function to Grade III/VI House-Brackmann with no asymmetry at rest. CONCLUSION: An unusual pattern of injury is described. We suggest that in patients presenting with facial nerve paralysis secondary to blunt trauma, without an associated temporal bone fracture, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging is recommended to evaluate internal auditory canal discontinuity of the VIIth and VIIIth nerve complexes. A potential mechanism of avulsion is explained.
Authors: Paul Merkus; Fillipo Di Lella; Giuseppe Di Trapani; Enrico Pasanisi; Milo A Beltrame; Diego Zanetti; Maurizio Negri; Mario Sanna Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Rory J Lubner; Renata M Knoll; Danielle R Trakimas; Ryan A Bartholomew; Daniel J Lee; Brad Walters; Joseph B Nadol; Aaron K Remenschneider; Elliott D Kozin Journal: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol Date: 2020-04-21