# Case Report: Facial nerve schwannoma: comprehensive surgical management with nerve reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation

## TL;DR

A 17-year-old girl with a facial nerve tumor underwent successful surgery and rehabilitation, improving her facial function and preserving hearing.

## Contribution

A case report demonstrating successful surgical and rehabilitative strategies for facial nerve schwannoma.

## Key findings

- Facial function improved from House-Brackmann grade V to III after surgery.
- Hearing was preserved following the two-stage surgical approach.
- Multidisciplinary management led to favorable functional outcomes.

## Abstract

Facial nerve schwannomas are rare tumors that pose diagnostic and surgical challenges. We report a 17-year-old female with progressive right-sided facial paresis initially misdiagnosed as Bell's palsy. MRI revealed a contrast-enhancing lesion of the facial nerve. She underwent a two-stage surgery: tumor resection via mastoidectomy and hearing rehabilitation, followed by facial nerve reconstruction using masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer and cross-face sural grafting. At nine months postoperatively, facial function improved from House-Brackmann grade V to III, and hearing was preserved. Early imaging and multidisciplinary management can enable complete tumor resection with functional restoration and favorable outcomes.