Question
The patient experienced an acute onset, with the right eye unable to close, the mouth distortion incline with no expression. The symptoms have persisted for two months. How should it be diagnosed and treated?
Answer
Given that the patient has an acute onset and symptoms that have persisted for two months, it is advisable to first consider the cause, which is commonly due to viral infection. It is also necessary to rule out the possibility of tumors, including those that may be compressing the facial nerve itself or other tumors. It is recommended to undergo a temporal bone CT scan and cranial magnetic resonance imaging to rule out tumors. A facial nerve electromyography test is also necessary. If the results show that the facial nerve has degenerated by 90%, consideration should be given to performing a facial nerve exploration and decompression surgery. Whether to undergo surgery should be fully analyzed, including the extent of the lesion (degeneration above 90%) and the recovery process (if there are no signs of recovery in 2-3 months, surgery is recommended).