title: Early perioperative use of polytef suspension for the management of facial paralysis after extirpative skull base surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The satisfactory management of facial paralysis after extirpative skull base surgery has been notoriously difficult. To optimize physical and psychological recovery, early perioperative use of polytef (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) facial suspension has been used in patients with either profound electrophysiological or anatomical disruption of the facial nerve.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the efficacy of this clinical algorithm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical record review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care University Hospital Inc, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records review of 32 patients who underwent lateral skull base surgery with resultant facial paralysis who had facial rehabilitation using polytef suspension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients who underwent polytef facial suspension reported improvement in both facial function as well as aesthetics. One patient had a late extrusion of the polytef implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early peri-extirpative application of this technique provides psychological and physical support to patients with facial paralysis who are recovering from lateral skull base surgery. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2000;2:243-248
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, PO Box 670528, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0528, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shumrick
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pensak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D005149:Facial Expression; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene