Facial nerve hit during sinus surgery

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In this case, it resolved spontaneously within 3 months.---------J Laryngol Otol. 2010 Sep 27:1-3. [Epub ahead of print]Weakness of buccal branch of facial nerve after canine fossa puncture.Byun JY, Lee JY, Baek BJ.Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon Hospital, South Korea.AbstractObjective:We report a case of weakness of the buccal branch of the facial nerve after a canine fossa puncture procedure.Method:A case report and literature review are presented.Results:A 52-year-old woman diagnosed with right chronic maxillary sinusitis underwent canine fossa puncture during endoscopic sinus surgery. Immediately after the operation, she complained of motor weakness of the right upper lip and oral commissure, in the area innervated by the buccal branch of the facial nerve. Electroneurography revealed incomplete paralysis of the right buccal branch. However, facial weakness had recovered spontaneously by three months post-operatively, with no permanent disability.Conclusion:This is the first reported case of an injury to the buccal branch of the facial nerve following canine fossa puncture. Although the incidence of this complication is very low, surgeons should inform their patients of the possibility, and should take care when choosing the puncture site.