Otitic barotrauma causing facial baroparesis

Abstract

Facial baroparesis is an extremely rare clinical entity which occurs due to otitic barotraumas. It is rarely reported in medical literature which can happen among persons those ascend to high altitude in flight or scuba diving. The overpressure in the middle ear cavity due to eustachian dysfunction may cause exertion of the excessive pressure over the facial nerve through a dehiscence of the horizontal segment of the fallopian canal leading to facial nerve paralysis. The clinical history and imaging help to diagnose this rare cause of facial nerve paralysis. Here, we report a case of a 38-year-old female who experiences unilateral facial nerve paralysis on ascent to high altitude on a flight, with relieve from symptoms shortly after descent.