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Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Watts, TL; Chard, R; Weber, SM; Wax, MK
Published in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
March 2011

OBJECTIVE: In the setting of known facial nerve sacrifice or injury, patients require precautions to prevent exposure keratitis and the morbidity that follows. One recommended treatment is surgical placement of a gold weight with or without lateral tarsal strip. In patients in whom the facial nerve has been sacrificed, it is unknown whether rehabilitation should be simultaneous or in the perioperative period. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series with chart review of patients who underwent immediate rehabilitation of the eye (gold weight and lateral tarsal strip) following facial nerve resection. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From 1998 to 2009, 52 patients were studied. Postoperative ophthalmologic complications and the need for revision surgeries were measured. RESULTS: A gold weight was placed in all patients, and 48 of 52 (92%) simultaneous lateral tarsal strips were performed. The facial nerve was sacrificed in 51 of 52 (88%) patients, and the remaining patient had a known preoperative facial nerve paralysis. Thirty-six of 52 (69%) required free tissue transfer for reconstruction, underscoring the extensive resections performed. A 1.2-g gold weight was placed in 50 of 52 (96%) patients. Three (6%) patients required gold weight revision with a larger weight and 3 (6%) for extrusion. Eight (16.7%) patients underwent revision of the lateral tarsal strip for ectropion. CONCLUSIONS: No patients developed ophthalmologic complications. Patients undergoing radical surgical resections with known or suspected injury of the facial nerve should be considered for simultaneous rehabilitation of the upper and lower eye.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6817

Publication Date

March 2011

Volume

144

Issue

3

Start / End Page

353 / 356

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Parotid Gland
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
  • Oculomotor Nerve Diseases
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

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Watts, T. L., Chard, R., Weber, S. M., & Wax, M. K. (2011). Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 144(3), 353–356. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599810394314
Watts, Tammara L., Rachael Chard, Stephen M. Weber, and Mark K. Wax. “Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 144, no. 3 (March 2011): 353–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599810394314.
Watts TL, Chard R, Weber SM, Wax MK. Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Mar;144(3):353–6.
Watts, Tammara L., et al. “Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, vol. 144, no. 3, Mar. 2011, pp. 353–56. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0194599810394314.
Watts TL, Chard R, Weber SM, Wax MK. Immediate eye rehabilitation at the time of facial nerve sacrifice. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Mar;144(3):353–356.
Journal cover image

Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6817

Publication Date

March 2011

Volume

144

Issue

3

Start / End Page

353 / 356

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Parotid Gland
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
  • Oculomotor Nerve Diseases
  • Middle Aged
  • Male