Car seat palsy.
Soft tissue trauma causing peripheral paralysis of the facial nerve is a rarely described event in children. The author describes such a case where a boy developed paralysis of the buccal division of the facial nerve in the absence of any bony injury, through collision with the cushioned side of a child seat during a road traffic accident. He had no other injuries. This reinforces the importance of thorough clinical examination in the detection of subtle neurological abnormalities in young children.
Christian
W
W
Paediatric Emergency Department, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 4BJ, UK. will.christian@virgin.net
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012622:Seat Belts