title: The timing of surgical treatment of traumatic facial paralysis: a systematic review.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical decompression performed within 2 weeks yields the best clinical prognosis for patients with TFP. This study also demonstrated that surgical exploration performed within 2 months results in acceptable outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The ideal timing for surgical intervention of traumatic facial paralysis (TFP) is still controversial. A systematic review was performed to appropriately determine the timing of surgical decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Related studies were identified by searching Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane and reviewing the relevant reference lists until 1 March 2016. Surgical timing was classified into four sub-groups: <2 weeks, 2 weeks-1 month, 1-2 months, and >2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies including 119 patients (119 cases) fulfilled the study requirements. The number of patients who achieved perfect recovery of House-Brackmanm (H-B) grade 1 was 40 of 119 patients (33.6%). Good results were demonstrated in 94.4% (17/18) of patients managed with surgical decompression within 2 weeks vs 63.4% (64/101) of patients undergoing surgical intervention at >2 weeks (p = 0.009).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Shaobing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Yanni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.|b Province Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Critical Diseases , Changsha , Hunan , PR China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Facial function; surgical decompression; surgical timing; traumatic facial never paralysis