Traumatic Facial and Vestibulocochlear Nerve Injury in The Internal Acoustic Canal in The Absence of A Temporal Bone Fracture

Abstract

Abstract

We present a rare case of traumatic facial and vestibulocochlear nerve injury in the internal acoustic canal in the absence of a temporal bone fracture. A 2.5-year-old female presented with sudden-onset left-sided facial paralysis and ipsilateral total hearing loss after being hit by a falling television. High-resolution computed tomography revealed an occipital fracture line that spared the temporal bone and otic capsule. Diagnostic auditory brainstem response testing showed that wave V at 90-db normal hearing level was absent in the left ear. Needle electromyography revealed severe axonal injury. Facial paralysis regressed to House–Brackmann grade IV 9 months after the trauma, and no surgical intervention was scheduled. Traumatic facial and vestibulocochlear nerve injury can occur in the absence of a temporal bone fracture. Thus, careful evaluation of the internal acoustic canal is mandatory if concurrent 7th and 8th cranial nerve paralyses exist with no visible fracture line.

Cite this article as: Pamuk AE, Pamuk G, Bajin MD, Yıldız FG, Sennaroğlu L. Traumatic Facial and Vestibulocochlear Nerve Injury in The Internal Acoustic Canal in The Absence of A Temporal Bone Fracture. J Int Adv Otol 2018; 14(2): 330-3.