Comparison between early and delayed facial nerve decompression in traumatic facial nerve paralysis - A retrospective study.

Purpose To study the intraoperative findings in case of early and delayed decompression of facial nerve paralysis and compare their results. Methods Retrospective data analysis of 23 cases of longitudinal temporal bone fracture with House-Brackmann grade V and VI facial nerve paralysis. All cases were thoroughly evaluated and underwent facial nerve decompression through the transmastoid approach. All cases were under regular follow-up till the date of manuscript submission. Results Clinical improvement of the facial nerve function was observed for early vs. delayed facial nerve decompression. In the early decompression group, facial nerve function improved to grade II in eight cases (80%) and grade III in two cases (20%), whereas in the delayed decompression group it improved to grade II in one case (7.70%), grade III in four cases (30.76%), grade IV in seven cases (53.84%), and grade V in one case (7.70%). Conclusions Early decompression of facial nerve provides better results than delayed decompression because it enables early expansion of the nerve.