Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T07:05:42.885Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Facial paralysis during air travel: case series and literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2012

K L Ah-See ,
M Shakeel ,
S K Maini  and
S S M Hussain
K L Ah-See
Affiliation:
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK
M Shakeel
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
S K Maini*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
S S M Hussain
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss S K Maini, Consultant Otolaryngologist, Ward 45, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, Scotland, UK Fax: +44 (0)1224 554 569 E-mail: sangeetamaini@nhs.net
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

We report three cases of recurrent, unilateral facial palsy associated with air travel.

Method:

The three cases are presented, along with a brief literature review concerning barotrauma and its association with air travel and facial palsy.

Results:

All three patients experienced unilateral facial paralysis during air travel, accompanied by additional symptoms which varied between cases. Symptoms resolved spontaneously in all cases. Two patients received ventilation tube insertion to prevent further recurrence. Computed tomography scanning revealed no bony defect in two patients, while the third exhibited dehiscence of the facial canal which may have contributed to the condition.

Conclusion:

Available evidence suggests that eustachian tube dysfunction can contribute to increased pressure within the middle ear, leading to neuropraxia of the facial nerve. Cases of facial paralysis associated with air travel are under-reported. Since there is no evidence-based management protocol for this condition, further investigation of its pathology is encouraged in order to improve our understanding.

Keywords

BarotraumaAviationFacial ParalysisPathophysiology
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 10 , October 2012 , pp. 1063 - 1065
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Koeppen, BM, Stanton, BA. Berne and Levy Physiology, Updated Edition, 6th edn.St Louis: Mosby, 2008;139Google Scholar
2Medscape Reference: Drugs, Diseases and Procedures: Eustachian tube function. In: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/874348-overview#aw2aab6b6 [accessed 24 June 2012]Google Scholar
3Ardehali, MM, Yazdani, N, Heidarali, M. Transient facial nerve baroparesis: case report. Pak J Biol Sci 2009;12:476–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Eidsvik, S, Molvaer, OI. Facial baroparesis: a report of five cases. Laryngoscope 1983;93:596–8Google Scholar
5Hyams, AF, Toynton, SC, Jaramillo, M, Stone, LR, Bryson, PJ. Facial baroparesis secondary to middle-ear over-pressure: a rare complication of scuba diving. J Laryngol Otol 2004;118:721–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Becker, GD. Recurrent alternobaric facial paralysis resulting from scuba diving. Laryngoscope 1983;93:596–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Whelan, TR. Facial nerve palsy associated with underwater barotraumas. Postgrad Med J 1990;66:465–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Woodhead, CJ. Recurrent facial palsy at high altitude J Laryngol Otol 1988;102:718–19CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Motamed, M, Pau, H, Daudia, A, Narula, A. Recurrent facial nerve palsy on flying. J Laryngol Otol 2000;114:704–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10James, DG. All that palsies is not Bell's. J R Soc Med 1996;89:184–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11International Travel and Health: Travel by air: health considerations. In: http://www.solarstorms.org/WHOAirlines.html [accessed 24 June 2012]Google Scholar
12D'Andrea, C, Meliet, JL, Frederik, S. Peripheral facial paralysis of dysbaric origin [in French]. Presse Med 2008;37:643–7Google Scholar
13PubMed Health: Ear barotrauma. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002059/#adam_001064.disease.causes [accessed 24 June 2012]Google Scholar
14Baxter, A. Dehiscence of the fallopian canal. J Laryngol Otol 1971;82:442–9Google Scholar
15Molvaer, OI, Eidsvik, S. Facial baroparesis: a review. Undersea Biomed Res 1987;14:277–95Google ScholarPubMed
16Kida, K. Developmental studies on the petrous part of the human temporal bone with special reference to the morphogenesis of the facial nerve canal. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 1996;71:205–16Google Scholar
17Perez, B, Campos, ME, Rivero, J, Lopez Campos, D, Lopez-Aguado, D. Incidence of dehiscences in the fallopian canal. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1997;40:51–60CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Moreano, EH, Paparella, MM, Zelterman, D, Goycoolea, MV. Prevalence of facial canal dehiscence and of persistent stapedial artery in the human middle ear: a report of 1000 temporal bones. Laryngoscope 1994;104:309–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Takahashi, H, Sando, I. Facial canal dehiscence: histologic study and computer reconstruction. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1992;101:925–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20Fuse, T, Tada, Y, Aoyagi, M, Sugai, Y. Neuroradiology CT detection of facial canal dehiscence and semicircular canal fistula: comparison with surgical findings. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1996;20:221–4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21Keskin, S, Çetin, H, Töre, HG. The correlation of temporal bone CT with surgery findings in evaluation of chronic inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. Eur J Gen Med 2011;8:24–30Google Scholar