A 2.5-year-old boy was hit with a sharp object at home resulting in a tiny and deep wound near the base of his skull behind the right ear leaving him with paralysis of the muscles in half of his face.

The injury resulted in a complete cut of the facial nerve, which controls the ability to blink, open and close the eyes, smile, frown, salivation and production of tears.

“We immediately noticed that the right side of his face is not moving and his right eye is not closing when he cries” his parents stated. The skin wound was 5 mm long only, but apparently quite deep to cut the facial nerve in a critical area of the boy’s face.

The surgical team lead by Dr. Sheikhan Al Hashmi, a consultant in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Burn and Craniofacial surgery, performed a successful microscopic surgery to explore and repair the nerve after protecting the important structures in that area.

The boy, who is under regular follow up in the outpatient clinic, regained the ability to control his paralyzed facial muscles within a 5 months period.

The boy's parents are grateful for the team at Khoula Hospital, as well as praised their efforts for their quality of care.