Clinical and electrodiagnostic assessment of facial nerve affection following TMJ surgery

The preauricular and endaural incisions for temporomandibular joint surgery were compared in 17 patients [25 joints] regarding possible facial nerve affection. The latter was assessed clinically and through electromyographic testing. Only one case out of 8 performed through the endaural approach showed temporary lid incompetence that regained normality after one week, while 6 cases out of the 17 preauricular incisions resulted in temporal and/or zygomatic branch affection. Using electromyography, figures of residual motor function were about normal again within 16 weeks