Targeted Surgical Decompression Reduces the Morbidity of Recurrent Inflammatory Facial Nerve Palsy

Objective: To describe the clinical outcomes following facial nerve decompression for recurrent facial nerve weakness. Study design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Quaternary referral centre. Patients: Patients who underwent elective surgical decompression of the facial nerve for recurrent paralysis. Intervention(s): Retrospective observational study. Main outcome measure(s): Days per year with facial nerve weakness. Results: Sixteen of 17 decompressed nerves derived benefit, with mean facial nerve weakness reduced from 56 days/year to 4 days/year. Conclusions: Surgery is a reasonable option, with high success rates, for selected cases with evidence of facial motor dysfunction and 3 or more episodes of ipsilateral facial nerve weakness secondary to recurrent idiopathic Bell’s palsy or Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome.