[Facial paralysis in temporal bone trauma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the cause and treatment of facial paralysis in temporal bone trauma. METHODS: A retrospective review of 28 patients with facial paralysis resulting from temporal bone trauma was conducted, House-Brackmann(H-B) system was used to evaluate the recovery of facial nerve function, U test was employed for statistic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six cases underwent following up facial nerve function of all patients was recovery partly after surgery, 46% cases reached H-B II, 84% cases reached H-B III, comparing facial nerve decompression within 4 months of injury to beyond 4 months of injury, recovery to H-B II or more of facial nerve function was 60% and 0%, respectively. The difference was significant(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surgery decompression is effective on facial nerve palsy caused by temporal bone trauma. It is recommended that surgery decompression be carried out as soon as possible since a better prognosis is obtained if it is performed within four months after injury.