Hiroshi Sunose

Facial Nerve Injury

Common causes of facial nerve injury include trauma, compression from a tumor, Bell’s palsy, and compromise secondary to inflammation. The facial nerve controls many muscles of the face, including those that control eye closing, smiling, and frowning. Despite the mechanism of injury, compromise of the facial nerve leads to decreased ability of the facial nerve to transmit messages from the brain to the facial muscles. Impaired facial nerve function can lead to facial weakness or paralysis.