Management of facial palsy caused by birth trauma.
We present a newborn with a unilateral complete facial palsy caused by birth trauma, and discuss the differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of this common, usually benign, condition. This child made a rapid, complete, spontaneous recovery despite a severe initial injury. Surgical exploration of the facial nerve should be considered only for infants with complete paralysis, clinically and electrophysiologically, who demonstrate no improvement by 5 weeks of age.
D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps / Q000009:adverse effects; D010246:Paralysis, Obstetric / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*