Facial nerve injuries associated with orthognathic surgery: a review of incidence and management.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7908.

While facial nerve injuries associated with both extraoral and intraoral orthognathic surgery are rare, the results of such an injury can be devastating to the patient. A review of the literature shows that the majority of such injuries fall into the first-, second-, and third-degree injury categories. Prevention cannot be stressed enough; however, early recognition of an injury with prompt electrodiagnostic testing can assist with determining prognosis and treatment planning. When close observation is indicated, a variety of medical therapies have been suggested. For more severe injuries, nerve repair and facial reanimation have been reported.

PMID: 2056372 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]