What is the facial nerve?
The facial nerve controls the muscles on the sides of the face, allowing us to smile, wink, cry, frown and make many other facial expressions. The facial nerve also helps us control our facial movements when eating, drinking and speaking.
There are two facial nerves; one on each side of the face that travels around the middle ear, exiting from the base of the skull and branching from the parotid gland. These branches allow motor function of all the different facial muscles.
What are some common conditions that affect the facial nerve?
Damage to the facial nerve can result from:
- Trauma or injury (e.g., fractures, facial or ear injuries, or surgical trauma).
- Tumors of the skull base
- Infection (e.g., Lyme disease and Ramsay Hunt syndrome)
- Toxins (alcoholism)
- Stroke and other neurological conditions
- Bell’s palsy (inflammation of the facial nerve)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Stroke is a major cause of facial nerve problems.
What are the symptoms of conditions affecting the facial nerve?
Facial nerve disorders can cause the following symptoms:
- Facial drooping
- Facial paralysis
- Weakening of the facial muscles
- Facial twitching
- Excessive salivation
- Dry eyes
- Changes in the sense of taste
Symptoms will depend on the severity of the damage to the facial nerve.
How can the causes of facial nerve disorders be diagnosed?
If a patient is experiencing symptoms of facial nerve damage, tests will be performed to determine the underlying cause so that the correct treatment can be administered. The following tests may be used:
- Balance test
- Hearing test (to check the health of the auditory nerve)
- Taste test
- Salivation test
- Scans (CT scan, ultrasound, MRI)
- Electrical nerve stimulation tests
How can facial nerve problems be treated?
Depending on the cause, potential treatments for symptoms of facial nerve disorders are:
- Artificial tears to keep the eyes moist.
- Nerve repair or grafts
- Muscle transfers
- Eyelid procedures to reposition the eyelids
- Removing tumors that may be causing the nerve symptoms