Fluorescence findings of the facial nerve at decompression operation.

Decompression operation was performed on patients with Bell's palsy and facial nerve palsy due to temporal bone fracture or otitis media, and a study was made on the relation between the fluorescence findings of the nerve and prognosis. The fluorescence of nerve was visible in 4 cases of Bell's palsy but none of the patients was completely cured, though the degree of cure tended to be proportional to the intensity of fluorescence. On the other hand, cure was seen even in cases of facial nerve palsy due to temporal bone fracture or otitis media that showed no fluorescence or any response in the maximal stimulation test (MST). It is suggested that Bell's palsy and facial nerve palsy due to trauma or otitis media do not share the same pathophysiology.