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Subtotal facial nerve decompression in preventing further recurrence and promoting facial nerve recovery of severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy

  • Otology
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A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 08 April 2016

Abstract

The objective of the study is to document the role of subtotal facial nerve decompression in preventing further recurrence and promoting facial nerve recovery of severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy. Twenty-two cases with idiopathic recurrent facial palsy, which had over 95 % degeneration of facial nerve on electroneurography, were included in the study, among which 12 accepting subtotal facial nerve decompression were involved in surgery group, and 10 who refused surgery and received prednisolone were classified into control group. The recurrence of facial palsy and facial nerve recovery was compared. The patients were followed up for 5.3 years (range 3–8 years) and 5.2 years (range 3–7 years) in surgery group and control group, respectively. Further recurrence of facial palsy occurred in none of 12 patients (0 %) in surgery group in contrast to 4 of 10 cases (40 %) in control group, with statistical difference (p < 0.05). 11 of 12 cases (91.7 %) in surgery group recovered to Grade I or Grade II compared to 3 of 10 cases (30.0 %) in control group, with significant difference (p < 0.05). Subtotal facial nerve decompression is effective to prevent further recurrence of facial palsy and promote facial nerve recovery of severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Culture West Road, Jinan, 250012, People’s Republic of China

    Shu-hui Wu & Xin-liang Pan

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Shuguang Hospital Baoshan Branch, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, You Yi Road, Shanghai, 201900, People’s Republic of China

    Shu-hui Wu, Xiang Chen, Jie Wang, Hua Liu & Xiao-zhong Qian

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  1. Shu-hui Wu
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  2. Xiang Chen
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  3. Jie Wang
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  4. Hua Liu
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  5. Xiao-zhong Qian
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  6. Xin-liang Pan
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Correspondence to Xin-liang Pan.

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Wu, Sh., Chen, X., Wang, J. et al. Subtotal facial nerve decompression in preventing further recurrence and promoting facial nerve recovery of severe idiopathic recurrent facial palsy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272, 3295–3298 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-2991-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-2991-9

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