[Congenital central paralysis of the facial nerve in a newborn infant].

A case of congenital paresis of the supranuclear facial nerve on the left side in a newborn is presented. His mother has also congenital central facial nerve paresis and for this reason the same anomaly in the newborn was considered to be due to a genetic defect in the intrauterine development. No other lesions in the pyramidal tract were observed. At the infant's birth, a mild form was found of the partial pneumothorax which spontaneously disappeared. The authors suggest a multidisciplinary approach in the study of congenital facial nerve lesions.