Frequency and Factors of Facial Nerve Damage. Actual Status of the Issue
Introduction. The number of persons with n. facialis lesion is constantly growing. In European countries, the frequency of these lesions is 20 facts, and in Japan - 30 facts per 100,000 population. Purpose. To analyze the frequency and the main etiological factors of facial nerve damage at the present stage, to identify the proportion of iatrogenic injuries and to determine the directions for further research in experimental conditions and in the clinic. Materials and methods. The available domestic and foreign specialized literature (periodicals for the last 15-20 years, manuals and monographs without a statute of limitations) containing data on the frequency and etiological factors contributing to the occurrence and development of facial nerve lesions are analyzed. Results. The total proportion of iatrogenic lesions of the facial nerve developed as a result of surgical treatment of a particular pathology of the craniofacial region and neck significantly exceeds 50%. Moreover, most of the persons with this pathology and after the treatment have transient changes in the conductivity of n. facialis. This requires further research aimed at improving the known and developing new methods of prevention, diagnosis and prediction of iatrogenic facial nerve injuries. Conclusion. The presented material testifies to a significant number of iatrogenic injuries of the facial nerve and numerous etiological factors which determines the direction of a retrospective study - identifying the frequency of n. facialis lesions depending on the nature of the traumatic agent that became the root cause of its development and determining the most accessible, reproducible and informative methods of investigation and verification of diagnosis.