A clinical case of facial nerve reconstruction after its damage during antromastoidotomy in a child

Abstract

The article describes a clinical case of facial nerve plastic reconstruction in a 3-year-old child after its damage during antromastoidotomy for acute purulent mastoiditis. A brief literature review presents a description of facial nerve damage etiology, which is in most cases related to the absence (poverty) of anatomical landmarks due to destruction in purulent, tumorous processes, as well as in common cholesteatoma. Restoration of the facial nerve by end-to-end stitching or plastic surgery to autografts of other motor nerves is still a controversial but promising direction. This clinical case adds further credence to the need for facial nerve monitoring during any sanitizing ear surgery.