[Iatrogenic injuries of the facial nerve in the mastoid region].

During the past ten years nine patients were referred to our hospital with lesions of the VIIth nerve. These lesions were inflicted during operation on account of chronic otitis media. One patient recovered after conservative treatment. Based on the EMG examination and clinical picture, eight patients were operated. In one who had an extensive lesion it did not prove possible to find the proximal stump and the patient improved after Normann-Dott's operation. In the remaining seven subjects also severe damage was involved: five times complete severing of the nerve occurred, twice partial severing and contusion, always in the mastoid portion of the VIIth nerve. The authors achieved as a rule a 50-75% restoration of function of the VIIth nerve Ballance-Duel's operation, using a graft of the n. suralis with microsuture of the epineurium and gluing of the nerve by plasma. Evaluation of late functional results was made 1-8 years after Ballance-Duel's operation. The authors recommend to reduce the risk of iatrogenic lesions of the VIIth nerve in beginners by assistance of experienced surgeons at several operations.