OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) is a joint pathology caused by bony and/or fibrous adhesion of the joint apparatus, resulting in partial or total loss of function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted between 2012 and 2016 in the northwest region of Nigeria. The data retrieved includes gender, age, etiology of ankylosis, duration of ankylosis, laterality of ankylosis, type of imaging technique, type of airway management, types of incision, surgical procedure, mouth opening, interpositional materials used, and complications. Results were presented as simple frequencies and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with TMJA were evaluated during the study period. There were 21 males (58.3%) and 15 females (41.7%), yielding a male:female ratio of 1.4:1. The patients' age ranged from 5 to 33 years with mean±standard deviation (13.8±6.6 years). Thirty-five cases (97.2%) were determined to be true/bony ankylosis, while only 1 case (2.8%) was false/fibrous ankylosis. Most of the TMJA cases (16 cases, 44.4%) were secondary to a fall. In our series, the most commonly utilized incision was the Bramley-Al-Kayat (15 cases, 41.7%). The mostly commonly performed procedures were condylectomies and upper ramus ostectomies (12 cases each, 33.3%), while the most commonly used interpositional material was temporalis fascia (14 cases, 38.9%). The complications that developed included 4 cases (11.1%) of severe hemorrhage, 1 case (2.8%) of facial nerve palsy, and 1 case (2.8%) of re-ankylosis. CONCLUSION: Plain radiographs, with their shortcomings, still have significant roles in investigating TMJA. Aggressive postoperative physiotherapy for a minimum of 6 months is paramount for successful treatment.
Airway Management ; Ankylosis* ; Arthroplasty ; Facial Nerve ; Fascia ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Mouth ; Nigeria ; Osteotomy ; Paralysis ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporomandibular Joint*

A 61-year-old female presented with 4 years history of left-sided hemifacial spasm. Head MRI and angiography indicated left vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm which compressed ipsilateral cranial nerves Ⅶ and Ⅷ. Microvascular decompression was performed. The dissecting aneurysm was pushed apart and the distal part of the parent artery was adhered to the dura on the petrosum. The compressed nerves were totally decompressed. The symptom of facial spasm was completely resolved immediately after surgery and did not recur during 6 months of follow up.
Cerebral Angiography ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Vertebral Artery Dissection ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: Differences in clinical features, especially facial nerve canal leision between cholesteatoma in external auditory meatus and middle ear were compaired. METHOD: A retrospective clinical analysis was made. Clinical data included 125 cases of middle ear cholesteatoma with facial nerve canal leision and 28 cases of cholesteatoma occurred in external auditory canal from 2003-01-2014-08 in our hospital. RESULT: Clinical course of cholesteatoma in external auditory canal was 4.97 ± 7.51 years, course of middle ear cholesteatoma was 16.60 ± 14.42 years (P < 0.01). 21 cases (75%) of external auditory canal cholesteatoma were manifested as pneumatic mastoid and 110 cases (88%) of middle ear cholesteatoma were manifested as diploic mastoid respectively. 22 cases (78.6%) of facial nerve canal damage-in mastoid segment in cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus and 76 cases (60.8%) of facial nerve canal damage in tympanic segment in cholesteatoma of middle ear were observed (P < 0.01). The incidence rate of ossicular errosion in middle ear chol-esteatoma was significantly higher than that in external auditory meatus (P < 0.01). The incidence of semicircular canal defects in middle ear cholesteatoma (30.4%), was significantly higher when comparing to the incidence (10.7%) in cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The site of facial nerve canal lesion in middle ear cholesteatoma and cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus were different. More attention should be paid before and during operation to avoid facial nerve injury, including physical examinations, especial otologic exams, radiological reading and careful operation.
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Ear Canal ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mastoid ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: 10 summarize tne clinical features of the facial nerve tumors involving the internal auditory canal and promote the management of facial nerve tumor. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical manifestations, the experiences of diagnosis and treatment of the facial nerve tumor involving the internal auditory canal. All these 5 cases were enrolled during January 2013 to Apr 2015. RESULT: Among the 5 cases, 3 cases were facial neurilemmoma and the others were facial neurofibroma. The main symptoms of facial nerve tumors involving the internal auditory canal most commonly were facial paralysis companied with hearing loss. All the patients accepted the surgical treatment with various approaches, 3 cases of translabyrinthine approach, 1 case of middle fossa approach, and 1 case of combination of translabyrinthine and transotic approach. Total tumor resection were achieved in all 5 cases. Facial-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis was performed in one case, another case was undergone great auricular nerve graft. CONCLUSION Surgical intervention for patients with facial neuroma involving internal auditory canal should be considered when facial weakness has deteriorated to grade 4. The management should be based on the patient's hearing, facial nerve function, tumor size and invasive extension to select the appropriate surgical procedures.
Anastomosis, Surgical ; Cranial Nerve Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; surgery ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Facial Paralysis ; complications ; Hearing Loss ; complications ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; surgery ; Neurilemmoma ; diagnosis ; Neurofibroma ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

Approximately 3% of all head and neck neoplasms originate in the parotid gland and less than 1% are oncocytic. We present the rare case of a 63-year-old woman with oncocytic carcinoma of the parotid gland with facial nerve invasion and discuss the characteristics of this rare entity. Based on the results of medical history, physical examination, computed tomography and postoperative histopathological diagnosis, oncocytic carcinoma of the parotid gland was diagnosed. Treatment involved complete parotid gland removal and right neck dissection. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were followed by operation. As of 9 months following surgery, no recurrence has been identified, but long-term results are undefined.
Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Parotid Gland ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis method and treatment of petrous apex cholesteatoma. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was taken with respects to the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and surgical management of 38 patients who underwent surgery for petrous apex cholesteatoma in our department. RESULT: (1)31 patients had unilateral hearing loss and facial paralysis of different degree, 27 patients were firstly characterized with hearing loss, and followed by facial paralysis. 6 cases had facial paralysis as the main performance. (2)17 patients had syndrome of tinnitus, and 15 patients had syndrome of vertigo and 4 cases of severe pain of ear. (3)All patients had petrous bone destroy with high resolution CT scan, while MRI suggests the presence of pathological changes in petrous apex. (4)All patients were taken surgeries to remove the lesion, and translabyrinth approach was chosen for 23 patients, middle cranial fossa approach is 12, while 3 case has choose endoscopic approach. 8 cases were operated with facial nerve decompression. 7 cases was taken end to end anastomosis. 3 cases of great auricular nerve transplantation. There is no recurrence in follow-up of 1 years to 2 years. CONCLUSION The clinical manifestations of petrous apex cholesteatoma lack specificity, and high resolution CT and MRI has important value in the diagnosis of petrous apex cholesteatoma. The strategy of surgical operation should be taken according to the classification, location of petrous apex cholesteatoma as well as hearing level and facial nerve function with patients.
Cholesteatoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Decompression, Surgical ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Petrous Bone ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Ear ; abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the internal auditory canal (IAC) and the nerves inside it to define possible structural differences in cases with subjective tinnitus of unknown origin. METHODS: Cases applying to the ear, nose and throat department with the complaint of tinnitus with unknown origin and having normal physical examination and test results were included in the study (n=78). Patients admitted to the radiology clinic for routine cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whose MRI findings revealed no pathologies were enrolled as the control group (n=79). Data for the control group were obtained from the radiology department and informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Diameters of the IAC and the nerves inside it were measured through enhanced images obtained by routine temporal bone MRIs in all cases. Statistical evaluations were performed using Student t-test and statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: Measurements of IAC diameters revealed statistically significant differences between the controls and the tinnitus group (P<0.05). Regarding the diameters of the cochlear nerve, facial nerve, inferior vestibular nerve, superior vestibular nerve, and total vestibular nerve, no statistically significant difference was found between the controls and the tinnitus group. CONCLUSION: Narrowed IAC has to be assessed as an etiological factor in cases with subjective tinnitus of unknown origin.
Cochlear Nerve ; Ear ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nose ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Temporal Bone ; Tinnitus* ; Vestibular Nerve

OBJECTIVE: To heighten the awareness of the facial nerve tumors. METHOD: The clinical data of twenty-three patients complaining of facial paralysis who were diagnosed postoperatively as facial nerve tumors were analyzed. The hearing assessment of all patients was based on pure tone audiometry at the frequency of 0. 5, 1, 2, 4 kHz. Temporal bone high resolution CT scan and temporal bone MRI with gadolinium enhancement were conducted on all patients. Facial nerve function was assessed with the House-Brackmann (HB) grading system. Facial electroneurography (ENoG) was conducted on 20 patients to quantify the degree of nerve degeneration preoperatively. The pathological types of tumor were determined by postoperative pathological reports. RESULT: Nineteen out of 23 cases presented hearing loss (82.6%), 10 cases suffered from tinnitus (43.5%), otalgia (17.4%) affected 4 cases, 3 cases manifested otorrhea (13.0%), and 2 cases presented vertigo (8.7%). Geniculate ganglion was the most commonly involved site (20 cases, 87.0%), followed by tympanic segments (18 cases, 78.3%), pyramid segment (16 cases, 69.6%), mastoid segment (10 cases, 43.5%), labyrinthine segment (9 cases, 39.1%), internal auditory canal segment and parotid gland segment (5 cases, 21.7%, respectively). Twenty-one cases (91.3%) of schwannomas, 1 case (4.3%) of neurofibroma and 1 case (4.3%) of hemangiomas were identified with histopathology postoperatively. The tumors were all completely excised, and the facial nerve function could recovered to HB III at the best after facial nerve repairment. CONCLUSION Facial nerve tumor is a rare and often misdiagnosed disease which was commonly manifested as facial nerve paralysis. Temporal bone CT and MRI can help to clarify the diagnosis preoperatively. Pure tone audiometry and electroneurography also plays a some certain roles in the diagnosis of facial nerve tumors. The tumors should be completely resected and the surgical approaches were determined based on tumor size, facial nerve function and preoperative auditory function.
Cranial Nerve Neoplasms ; complications ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; complications ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; Hearing Loss ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma ; Temporal Bone

Facial nerve palsy due to temporal bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has rarely been reported. We experienced a rare case of temporal bone metastasis of HCC that initially presented as facial nerve palsy and was diagnosed by surgical biopsy. This patient also discovered for the first time that he had chronic hepatitis B and C infections due to this facial nerve palsy. Radiation therapy greatly relieved the facial pain and facial nerve palsy. This report suggests that hepatologists should consider metastatic HCC as a rare but possible cause of new-onset cranial neuropathy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*pathology ; Facial Nerve Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Facial Pain/etiology ; Facial Paralysis/diagnosis/etiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Skull Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/secondary ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed