Late Onset of Facial Nerve Palsy After Tympanomastoidectomy: HSV-1 Activation?

Late Onset of Facial Nerve Palsy After Tympanomastoidectomy: HSV-1 Activation?

We present a case of a right peripheral facial palsy occuring 7 days after an operation. A 42-year-old female patient had an uneventful right tympanomastoidectomy in our clinic. She developed right HauseBrackmann Grade II peripheral facial palsy postoperatively at the 7th day. A viral screen was performed using an Enzyme Immunoassay. Herpes Simplex Virus-1 specific antibody titer was determined on the 2nd day of facial palsy, confirming the viral etiology. She was commenced on steroid therapy. Her facial nerve functions recovered completely after one week.

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