Transmastoid decompression as a treatment of Bell palsy

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the efficacy of transmastoid decompression a fter steroid treatment. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred one adults with Bell palsy having denervation exc eeding 95% after steroid treatment were divided into 2 groups. in 58 patien ts decompression from the labyrinthine segment to the stylomastoid foramen was performed, and the remaining 43 patients were only followed up. Using t he Yanagihara score and House Brackmann grading system, the recovery from t he palsy was assessed. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the final faci al score of the 2 groups. Within 60 days after the onset, the chance of bet ter recovery from the palsy was higher in the patients with decompression. CONCLUSION: In the era of steroid treatment, we cannot discard the transmas toid decompression of the facial nerve in the treatment of severe Eel palsy with profound denervation, although further effort is needed to obtain def initive evidence to show the benefit of the operation.