Delayed Facial Nerve Paralysis after Tympanomastoid Surgery: The Potentiality of Fungal Infection and Treatment / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical courses and clinical outcomes of delayed facial nerve paralysis (DFNP) after middle ear and mastoid surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In our hospital, postoperative DFNP occurred in 13 cases among the patients who underwent ear surgery from December 2000 to February 2010. During the same period, another 4 cases with postoperative DFNP were diagnosed at a local clinic. We assessed the degree of DFNP by using House-Brackmann grade (HBG) and separated 8 patients in grade II, 6 patients in grade III and 3 patients in Grade IV. Among 17 patients, DFNP occurred after open cavity mastoidectomy in 11 cases and after closed cavity mastoidectomy in the rest of 6 cases. RESULTS: Among 17 postoperative DFNP, fungal infections were found in three patients. Patients for whom antifungal agent was relatively delayed in application, their condition did not improved. CONCLUSION: After treatment, most of patients recovered within 1 month and there were no other associated infection during hospitalization. We suggest that antifungal agents should be used as soon as possible when patients complain about DFNP following open cavity mastoidectomy.