Reconstructive Surgery & Anaplastology

Facial nerve is considered the “Queen of The Face” as it innervates the muscles of facial expression. Anatomic variations and multiple innervation patterns of the peripheral branches render facial nerve to an increased risk during various surgical procedures to temporomandibular joint using preauricular approach [1]. Facial nerve injury following various surgical procedures to the maxillofacial region ranges from 0-48% [1]. Incidence of facial nerve injury following TMJ surgeries ranges from 1-32% [2]. Out of the several methods used for evaluating the motor function of facial nerve, House and Brackman Facial Nerve Grading System (HBFNGS) has gained some importance which was introduced in 1983 and modified by Brackmann in 1985 and accepted by American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery [3]. It is a comprehensive method of evaluation of motor function, both at rest and in function. It carries an interobserver reliability of 93% [3].

Motor impairment of the facial nerve has severe emotional impact on patients both in terms of function and esthetics. We have noticed that there is no proper consensus on the incidence of facial nerve damage and the time taken for the resolution of the symptoms in this part of the country. Hence, the authors have undertaken the following study with the aim to evaluate the facial nerve function following surgery through preauricular incision that would contribute to the previous literature, increase awareness among the surgeons and as well as help them in assuring the patients undergoing surgery in the region of temporomandibular joint. The objectives of the current study are to identify the commonly affected branch of facial nerve, the time taken for resolution of the weakness and incidence of any permanent nerve damage.

Retrospective data was collected from a total of 32 patients who reported to Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India, during a period of 3 years from July 2010 to June 2013 who underwent various surgical procedures to temporomandibular joint using preauricular approach (Table1). Ethical clearance was obtained from the institute and informed consent was taken from all the patients. Patients who had facial nerve weakness pre operatively were excluded from the study. Facial nerve weakness post operatively was assessed both at rest and in function through House and Brackman Facial Nerve Grading System (HBFNGS) during 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months and 1year postoperatively (Table 2). Statistical analysis was done by Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test using SPSS software version 17.0.

Table 1: List of the Patients Included In the Study

Table 2: Facial Nerve Weakness According To Hbfngs

All the patients were photographed in the following positions: at rest, while closing the eyes with minimal effort, while trying to close the eyes with maximum effort, raising the eyebrows, blowing the cheeks and smiling or showing the lower anterior teeth and the results were summarized. When both temporal and zygomatic branches were involved, grading was given based on the ability to close the eye.

Out of the 32 patients, 9 patients were diagnosed to have temporomandibular joint ankylosis, of which bilateral ankylosis was seen in case 1. There were 22 cases of condylar fracture in which 3 cases had bilateral involvement of fracture and one case of condylar hyperplasia was also included. A total of 36 surgical approaches were carried out on 32 patients with modifications of pre auricular incisions of which, Al-Kayat and Bramley incision was given in 10 cases, Rowe’s incision in 22 cases.

In a total of 32 patients, 20(62.5%) had facial nerve weakness following surgery. During first 24 hours following the surgery, 10 out of 20 patients (50%) showed moderately severe dysfunction while 6 patients (30%) showed moderate dysfunction and 4 patients (20%) had mild dysfunction of the facial nerve. The results are summarized in Table 2. At 1st month post operative period, 12 out of 20 patients (60%) had recovered normal motor function of facial nerve. Two patients could not be reviewed for more than 1 month post operatively as they did not turn up for further follow up, thus attiring the sample size to 18 (n=18) at 3 months post operative period, and on follow up after 3 months 17 patients out of 18 (94.44%) regained normal facial nerve function and at 6 months post operative period all except one patient regained motor function while the remaining 1patient had mild temporal branch weakness without affecting the function of closure of the eye. At 1st year post operative period, all the 18 patients (100%) recovered normal motor function.

Table 3: House and Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System

Maximum amount of recovery occurred in 1-3 months following surgery and also a significant improvement in motor nerve function is seen over time as depicted in Table 4 and 5 shows statistical analysis using Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed ranks test. None of the patients had permanent facial nerve weakness.

Table 4: Showing Statistical Analysis Using Friedman Test

Table 5: Showing Statistical Analysis Using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks

Out of 20 patients, in 17 cases (85%) both temporal and zygomatic branches were involved, only temporal branch was involved in 3 cases (15%). None of the patients had moderate dysfunction after 3 months following surgery. Only temporal and zygomatic branches were involved and average time taken for the complete resolution of weakness was more for temporal branch. In 4 cases, where both temporal and zygomatic branches were involved, grading was given based on the ability to close the eye, though they were considered Grade I, there was mild to moderate weakness of the temporal branch. However, none of the patients had a permanent damage to the facial nerve.

Weinberg and Kryshtalskyj [4], in their review of the literature stated that incidence ranged from 1% to 55% among different authors. In the present study 20 patients (62.5%) had facial nerve weakness following surgery. Incidence of the motor function impairment following surgery varied among various authors [5].

Age or gender did not show any significant difference in time taken for recovery, only surgical procedure has influenced the recovery, as delayed recovery was encountered in patients who have undergone extensive surgeries like interposition alarthroplasty (Grade III and Grade II 1 month post operatively) compared to those who underwent internal fixation of condylar fractures and gap arthroplasty (Grade I, 1 month post operatively). These results are comparable to those reported by Nogueir et al. [5]. 94% recover normal function 6 months postoperatively while 100% of the patients recovered normal function 1 year postoperatively (Figure 1-4).

Figure 1: Zygomatic branch affected on left side

Figure 2: Recovery following 1 month

Figure 3: Temporal branch affected (left side)

Figure 4: Recovery 3 months

Wilson et al. [6] stated that preauricular approach often causes injury to the temporal and zygomatic branches. Similar finding was noticed in the present study as well.

We have used House and Brackmann facial nerve grading system for evaluation. Despite the wide acceptance of HBFNGS and its clinical implications, we have experienced its limitations, as 85% of our patients had involvement of more than one branch with varying degrees of severity. When both temporal and zygomatic branches were involved, grading was given based on the ability to close the eye, as previously described by other authors [1,2].

The time taken for the recovery of motor function ranged between 1-6 months among various authors [2,6]. In the present study, maximum amount of recovery occurred at 1-3 months and in 6 months postoperative period all the patients showed recovery of normal motor nerve function except one, who had involvement of only temporal branch which affected neither function nor esthetics and on 1 year follow up, complete recovery of normal function was observed. Thus, permanent damage to the nerve occurred in none of the patients. These findings are in consistence with previous authors who stated that pre auricular approach is safe, cosmetic and results in temporary impairment of function [2,4,6,7].

The time taken for recovery of temporal branch was more compared to zygomatic branch. Cormack et al. [8] have reported 8 types of facial nerve branching patterns after their study on 100 cadaver dissections of which there are multiple anastomoses between the branches. The incidence of cross anstomosis between zygomatic and buccal branches is high (87-100%) [6]. Temporal branch lies about 2cm on average (0.8- 3.5cm) from anterior concavity of external auditory canal and crosses zygomatic arch from 2.5-3.5 cm from lateral orbital rim [2,9]. It lies deep to the temporoparietal fascia and at the zygomatic arch it lies in a condensation of superficial fascia, temporalis fascia and periosteum, and is most vulnerable in this region. If the tissue dissection violates the integrity of this region, it results in temporal nerve weakness. Stretching of the nerve and excessive retraction of the tissues resulting in edema and compression of the nerve might be the possible reasons for the delayed recovery of the temporal branch in our series. However, a larger sample size is needed to draw further conclusions.

Facial nerve weakness has severe emotional impact on patients. Every attempt should be made to preserve the facial nerve intra operatively as it is associated with morbidity both in terms of function and esthetics. From the present study, it can be concluded that neurosensory disturbances following pre auricular incisions are mainly due to stretching of the nerve and compression following edema and are only temporary in nature with maximum amount of recovery occurring between 1-3 months. Hence the patients with postoperative nerve injury must be reassured. The time taken for recovery is more for temporal branch. These motor disturbances can be reduced by minimizing the operating time and with meticulous soft tissue handling.