Question
Facial palsy caused by a car accident, with part of the left side of the face having nerve avulsion. There is a crooked mouth and nose, and the nasolabial groove has become shallow. There is still sensation but no movement. Ask whether it is possible to return to normal?
Answer
The treatment for traumatic facial palsy depends on the location and severity of the injury. If it is caused by a temporal bone fracture, some patients may consider facial nerve decompression surgery, which is an active treatment method to promote nerve recovery. If the facial nerve is directly damaged in the distal part of the temporal bone, it may be necessary to perform exploratory surgery to determine the type of nerve injury and decide whether to perform nerve anastomosis or transplantation based on the intraoperative situation. Additionally, the recovery time of facial palsy is also important; if it exceeds three months, neurofibrosis may have already occurred, and the hope for recovery will greatly decrease.