Facial nerve injury

We all know that the brain is an extremely important part of our body, and the cerebrum, cerebellum, etc. are necessary for us to be able to function normally. Therefore, many people believe that this is the most important and fragile part of the body. But few people know that our face is also an equally important but fragile part. Our brain is protected by the skull, but our face is exposed to various environments. The face contains a lot of nerves, and if we are not careful, it may cause facial nerve damage.

Everyone cares very much about their face. If the facial nerves are damaged, it will not only cause harm to the patient's body, but also cause serious psychological interference. Since facial nerve damage is so harmful, how is it caused, what are the symptoms, and what examinations are needed? Let's answer them one by one.

Facial nerve injury refers to a disease in which violent force is applied to the head, causing symptoms of facial nerve disorders such as weakness of the ipsilateral facial muscles.

Causes of facial nerve damage

The common cause of facial nerve injury is fracture of the petrous and mastoid parts of the middle cranial fossa. About 50% of longitudinal fractures and 25% of transverse fractures in this part are accompanied by injury to the VIIth cranial nerve, especially longitudinal fractures parallel to the long axis of the petrous cone. The facial nerve is most susceptible to traction, contusion or compression by fracture fragments, resulting in early or delayed facial nerve paralysis.

What are the symptoms of facial nerve damage?

Early-onset type: facial paralysis occurs immediately after injury, the affected side loses expression, the eyelids do not close completely, and the corners of the mouth lean toward the healthy side, which is more obvious when crying or laughing. The affected eye often has exposure keratitis. If the facial nerve is damaged proximal to the chorda tympani nerve, the taste sensation of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue on the same side will also be lost.

Delayed onset: Facial paralysis often occurs 5 to 7 days after injury, mostly due to bleeding, ischemia, edema or compression, and the prognosis is good.

What tests should be done for facial nerve injury?

1 X-ray examination

2 If the electrophysiological examination shows that both the nerve electrical response and the electromyogram are negative, it means that the nerve conduction has been interrupted, but it cannot be determined whether it is anatomical disconnection or physiological block. Over time, repeated testing often leads to accurate judgments.

Diagnosis of facial nerve injury

The diagnosis of facial nerve injury can be determined based on the early onset and degree of post-injury paralysis, electrical excitation and electromyography examinations. It is not difficult to differentiate it from facial neuritis through medical history. This disease has a history of brain trauma and the condition is more serious than facial neuritis.

There are abundant nerves on our face, and these nerves are easily affected by the external environment. After introducing the relevant situation of facial nerve damage above, I hope that everyone will pay more attention to their face in the future life. If symptoms of facial nerve damage appear, don't panic. Go to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible and strive for a speedy recovery.