Unmasking the uncommon symptoms of delayed facial nerve palsy following head trauma in a child: A case report
Facial nerve paralysis is a relatively rare neurological condition in children, often associated with head trauma. Delayed facial nerve palsy (dFNP) after trauma is an uncommon phenomenon that poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 6-year-old boy sustained a head injury in a motor vehicle ac...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Radiology Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325004443 |
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| Summary: | Facial nerve paralysis is a relatively rare neurological condition in children, often associated with head trauma. Delayed facial nerve palsy (dFNP) after trauma is an uncommon phenomenon that poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 6-year-old boy sustained a head injury in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a temporal bone fracture. Ten days later, he presented with progressive right-sided facial weakness, diagnosed as post-traumatic dFNP. Imaging revealed a minimally displaced right temporal bone fracture, a ruptured arachnoid cyst, and a frontal contusion. He was treated with a tapering oral corticosteroid regimen, eye lubrication, and physical therapy. Surgical decompression was performed due to persistent symptoms. At follow-up, the patient had complete symptom resolution. This case highlights the importance of recognizing dFNP as a delayed complication of pediatric head trauma. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management improve outcomes. Clinicians should educate families about the possibility of delayed symptom onset to avoid misdiagnosis. |
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| ISSN: | 1930-0433 |