Patient's question:
Car accident-induced facial paralysis affects the left side of the face. Some nerves were torn. Now the mouth and nose are, the nasolabial groove is shallow, there is sensation but no movement.Doctor's answer:
Hello. The diagnosis of traumatic facial palsy depends on the location of the injury: whether it is caused by temporal bone fracture or direct facial nerve damage and interruption in the extracranial segment of the temporal bone. If the cause is a temporal bone fracture, some patients may consider facial nerve decompression surgery, which is an active treatment approach to promote nerve recovery. If the injury is in the extracranial segment of the temporal bone, some patients may require surgical exploration to determine the type of nerve damage. If the nerve is interrupted, nerve anastomosis or grafting may be considered, with the decision based on intraoperative findings. Additionally, the duration of facial palsy matters. If it has already exceeded 3 months, the damaged nerve is often fibrotic, significantly reducing the chances of recovery.