Congenital vs Acquired Facial Palsy
Facial paralysis is a condition that occurs as a result of the loss of function of the facial nerve that controls the movements of the facial muscles. While some people experience this condition from birth, others may face facial paralysis at a certain period of their lives. In this context, congenital facial paralysis occurs while the baby is still in the womb or developing during birth and is usually associated with genetic syndromes, birth trauma or developmental anomalies, while acquired facial paralysis can occur due to infections, stroke, trauma or tumours and can be seen in different age groups. You can browse our content to get detailed information about these conditions. In this way, you can have comprehensive and accurate information. We wish you all pleasant reading and healthy days.
What is Acquired Facial Palsy?
Acquired facial palsy is a condition that occurs at any age after birth and affects the mobility of the facial muscles. This condition develops as a result of damage or loss of function of the 7th cranial nerve (facial nerve), known as the facial nerve. In this context, it can be caused by various causes such as infections (for example, idiopathic facial paralysis, known as Bell's palsy, can be caused by the Herpes virus), trauma, tumours, stroke (paralysis) or neurological diseases. This condition usually develops suddenly or gradually, and in some cases it is unilateral and in some cases it is rarely bilateral.
In acquired facial paralysis, functional disorders such as facial asymmetry, weakness in eye and mouth movements, inability to close the eyelids, sagging lips, difficulty in speaking and eating occur. In addition, depending on the level of nerve involvement, additional symptoms such as pain in the ear, changes in the sense of taste and excessive lacrimation are also observed. In this context, the treatment of acquired facial paralysis is aimed at restoring the patient's facial functions as much as possible and improving the quality of life.
Causes of Acquired Facial Palsy
Acquired facial paralysis has many causes. These causes can be caused by tumours as well as some neural diseases. In this context, if we examine the causes of acquired facial paralysis;
- Bell Palsy
- Lyme disease
- Middle ear infections
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome - Herpes Zoster Oticus
- Head injuries and facial injuries
- Temporal bone fractures
- Stroke
- Brain stem tumours
- Tumours along the facial nerve
- Salivary gland tumours in front of the ear
- Nerve damage due to diabetes
- Sarcoidosis and other autoimmune diseases
Symptoms of s Acquired Facial Palsy
Acquired facial paralysis is a condition that usually occurs suddenly or gradually and causes loss of movement of the muscles on one or both sides of the face. The most obvious symptom of this condition is facial asymmetry. Especially when the patient smiles or tries to speak, it is noticed that facial expressions disappear on the affected side. In addition, inability to close the eyelid completely, drooping of the corner of the mouth and impaired sense of taste are among the symptoms that frequently occur in acquired facial paralysis. In addition, some patients may experience pain and hypersensitivity (hyperacusis) in the ear. This is because the facial nerve also controls the small muscles in the ear. In addition to all these, if facial paralysis is due to central nervous system diseases such as stroke, additional neurological symptoms such as weakness in the arms and legs, changes in consciousness or speech disorders may also be observed.
For this reason, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment in patients with acquired facial paralysis are of great importance to ensure the recovery of nerve functions.
Congenital Facial Paralysis Treatment Methods
Acquired facial paralysis also has different treatment methods. These treatment methods vary according to the severity of the paralysis and the functional abilities of the patient. In this context, in mild cases, especially in temporary facial paralysis due to birth trauma, the nerve can heal spontaneously over time and spontaneous recovery can be seen within a few months. However, in permanent or more severe cases, physiotherapy and facial muscle strengthening exercises are recommended. These exercises can support mimic movements by encouraging the facial muscles to work.
In more severe or permanent cases of facial paralysis, treatment methods such as nerve transplantation or nerve transfer surgery (e.g. cross facial nerve graft (CFNG) or hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis) may be considered. However, if the facial muscles have been immobilised for a long period of time, muscle transfer surgery (e.g. transplantation of the gracilis muscle from the thigh to the face) can be performed to enable the patient to make facial expressions such as smiling.
Difference Between Congenital Facial Palsy and Acquired Facial Palsy
As a result, there are certain differences between acquired facial paralysis and congenital facial paralysis. If you want to have detailed information about these differences, you can examine the table below. Thus, you can have a detailed idea about the differences between acquired facial paralysis and congenital facial paralysis.
| Criterion | Congenital (Congenital) Facial Paralysis | Acquired (Developed Later) Facial Paralysis |
|---|---|---|
| Causes | Present from birth | Can occur at any age after birth |
| Symptoms | - Developmental anomalies (Moebius syndrome, genetic syndromes) - Birth trauma (forceps use, prolonged labor) - Intrauterine infections and hypoxia |
- Infections (Bell's palsy, Lyme disease, shingles) - Trauma (head injuries, post-surgical damage) - Tumors, stroke, neurological diseases (MS, Guillain-Barré Syndrome) |
| Diagnostic Methods | Clinical examination, EMG, MRI, genetic tests | Clinical evaluation, EMG, blood tests, brain imaging (MRI, CT) |
| Treatment Approach | - Spontaneous recovery in mild cases - Physical therapy and facial muscle strengthening exercises - Surgical interventions such as nerve grafts and muscle transfers |
- Corticosteroids, antiviral drugs depending on the underlying cause - Physical therapy and facial muscle exercises - Nerve surgery or facial reconstruction |
| Recovery Process | May be permanent, some cases may improve over time | May be temporary or permanent depending on the cause, some cases can fully recover |
If you are suffering from Acquired facial paralysis or Congenital facial paralysis and want this condition to be treated, you can contact Dr. Be immediately and experience a perfect facial paralysis treatment process.
