CLINICAL CASES   

Minerva Stomatologica 2006 July-August;55(7-8):465-70

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Facial nerve paralysis following mandibular trauma: a case report

Zillo Martini M. ¹, Gomes De Oliveira Neto H. ², Takahashi A. ³, Pardo Kaba S. C. ⁴, Shinohara E. H. ⁵

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. Carmino Caricchio Municipal Hospital Tatuapé, São Paulo, Brazil 2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Vila Penteado General Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil 3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery School of Dentistry Ponta Grossa State University (UEPG) Paraná, Brazil 4 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery School of Dentistry University of Santo Amaro (UNISA) São Paulo, Brazil 5 School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (USP) São Paulo, Brazil

A strong posteriorly directed force applied to the mandible resulting in fracture, can also displace the mandibular condyle towards the external auditory canal or superiorly against the mandibular fossa, causing its penetration into the middle cranial fossa or even the fracture of the temporal bone. We report the case of a 30-year-old male patient victim of a bicycle accident that developed facial expression muscles paralysis on the left side soon after the trauma. On physical examination he presented left side postauricular ecchymosis, diminished muscular tonus of the left mouth angle and difficulty to close the left eye, he did not present clinical signs of facial fractures. The neurological and CT scan examination revealed fracture of the left temporal bone with total facial expression muscles paralysis. The patient was referred to the neurosurgical team for evaluation and they opted for a conservative treatment. After 3 months the patient showed a marked improvement with almost normal facial expression muscle movements. The trauma dynamics and treatment details are discussed.