Total Facial Nerve Decompression for Restoration of Facial Palsy Associated with Temporal Bone Fracture

For restoration of facial palsy associated with temporal bone fracture, decompression of the facial nerve between the lesion and the stylomastoid foramen is reliable surgical treatment and valuable to minimize residual palsy and sequela such as synkinesis and contracure of the face. When the fracture involves the geniculate ganglion and its vicinity, a total decompression of the intratemporal facial nerve from the internal auditory canal to the stylomastoid foramen is required. Two surgical approaches, translabyrinthine approach and combined middle fossatransmastoid approach, are available for the total decompression. Surgical techniques in these two approaches are described in detail together with indication for each approach, surgical complications and the results.