Evaluation of long-term results of surgical treatment of patients with facial paralysis by trigeminal neurotization

Postoperative facial nerve paralysis is the most frequently detected complication in surgery of tumors of the cerebellar bridge angle. The aim of the study. To carry out a retrospective assessment of the long-term results of trigeminal neurotization of the facial nerve, taking into account the timing of reinnervation. Methods. In the period from 2013 to 2020, 67 patients underwent surgical treatment, within a period of 1 to 13 months after the detection of facial nerve paralysis. In almost all cases, facial nerve paralysis was the result of surgical treatment of tumors of cerebello-pontine angle (66 patients), in one case, paralysis developed as a result of traumatic injury. The function of the facial nerve was evaluated both in the preoperative period and in the catamnesis. The House – Brackmann (HB) scale and electromyography were used for this purpose. The catamnesis lasted from 15 to 98 months. Results. In 61 patients, functional restoration ofthefacial nerve wasobserved from grade6 tograde3 or 4 HB (91 %). Patients operated on early after the development of facial paralysis showed better postoperative recovery (Spearman’s r = 0.3; p = 0.038). Conclusion. The results of surgical treatment indicate that early reinnervation in patients with facial paralysis demonstrates a significant regression of facial paralysis without the development of additional complications.