title: Epidemiology of iatrogenic facial nerve injury: a decade of experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the procedure-specific incidence, risk factors, and injury patterns in patients with iatrogenic facial nerve injury as seen at a tertiary care facial nerve center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Facial Nerve Center patient records from 2002 to 2012 were reviewed for cases of iatrogenic facial nerve injury. These were analyzed by type of inciting procedure, injury location, patient demographics, and referral pattern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1,810 patient records, 102 were identified that involved iatrogenic facial nerve injury. Oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures accounted for 40% of injuries, resections of head and neck lesions 25%, otologic procedures 17%, cosmetic procedures 11%, and other procedures 7%. The most common operation resulting in facial nerve injury was temporomandibular joint replacement. The most frequent pattern of injury was total hemifacial weakness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iatrogenic facial nerve injury occurs most commonly in temporomandibular joint replacement, mastoidectomy, and parotidectomy. Direct visualization of the nerve may decrease the incidence of injury, and early referral for facial nerve exploration may result in improved outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology , Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A; Facial Nerve Center , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Marc H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hohman
authors.forename: Prabhat K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Bhama
authors.forename: Tessa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hadlock
mesh_terms: D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Facial nerve; facial paralysis; iatrogenic injury