Total facial nerve decompression in severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy: its long-term follow-up results

Abstract

Background: The long-term outcomes of total facial nerve decompression (TFND) in severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy (IRFP) are still unknown.

Aims/objectives: To explore the long-term follow-up results of TFND in IRFP.

Materials and methods: Twenty-eight patients suffering from severe IRFP were enrolled. Patients were offered conventional therapy or TFND and were categorized into control or operation group. The follow-up lasted for at least 6 years. Comparison was made in terms of relapse of facial palsy as well as outcomes of facial nerve.

Results: There were 16 participants in operation group, whose follow-up lasted for 10.4 ± 1.3 years. In contrast, there were 12 participants in control group, who were followed up lasted for 11.2 ± 1.2 years. No participants suffered relapse in the operation group while seven out of 12 participants (58.3%) encountered relapse with regard to control group (p < .05). In terms of facial nerve results, 16 out of 18 participants (88.9%) reached satisfactory outcomes of facial nerve (HB grade I or II) while only four out of 12 participants (33.3%) achieved satisfactory outcomes in control group (p < .05).

Conclusions and significance: In terms of severe IRFP, TFND can defend patients from relapse in a long period, and enhance recovery of facial nerve.

背景：对严重特发性复发性面神经麻痹（IRFP）病人进行全面神经减压（TFND）的长期结果尚不清楚。

目的：探索对IRFP进行的TFND的长期随访结果。

材料和方法：招募了28名患有严重IRFP的患者。患者接受常规治疗或TFND, 分别归为对照组和手术组。随访持续至少6年。于面神经麻痹的复发以及面神经的结果两个方面进行了比较。

结果：手术组有16名参与者, 随访时间为10.4±1.3年。相比之下, 对照组有12名参与者, 随访时间为11.2±1。2年。在手术组中无参与者复发, 而对照组12名参与者中有7名（58.3％）复发（p <.05）。在面神经结果方面, 18名参与者中有16名（88.9％）达到了令人满意的面神经结果（HB I级或II级）, 而对照组12名参与者中只有4名（33.3％）取得了满意的结果（p <。 05）。

结论和意义：对于严重IRFP患者, TFND可以长期避免患者复发, 增强面神经的恢复。

Keywords:

• Total facial nerve decompression
• recurrent facial palsy
• facial nerve

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.