title: Recurrent facial palsy in Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome: total facial nerve decompression is effective to prevent further recurrence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of total facial nerve decompression in preventing further recurrence of facial palsy in Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome (MRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total facial nerve decompression was performed on nine patients with recurrent facial palsy in MRS, and prednisolone treatment was given to 6 cases who declined surgery. They were incorporated into surgery group and control group, respectively. Patients in surgery group and control group were followed up for 5.4 ± 1.4 years (range, 4 to 8 years) and 6.0 ± 1.4 years (range, 4 to 8 years), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Further episodes of facial palsy affected none of 9 cases (0.0%) in surgery group, while they affected 3 of 6 cases (50.0%) in control group, with significant difference (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total facial nerve decompression was effective to prevent further episodes of facial palsy in MRS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing, P.R.C.
authors.forename: Zulin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing, P.R.C.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing, P.R.C.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing, P.R.C.
authors.forename: Weixi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang City, Henan Province P.R.C.
authors.forename: Jiapeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Center of Clinical Aviation Medicine, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing, P.R.C. Electronic address: xuxianrongkz@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xianrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008556:Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult