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Seventh cranial nerve palsy due to birth trauma
The most common form of facial nerve palsy due to birth trauma involves only the lower part of the facial nerve. This part controls the muscles around the lips. The muscle weakness is mainly noticeable when the infant cries.
The newborn infant may have the following symptoms:
A physical exam is usually all that is needed to diagnose this condition. Rarely, a nerve conduction study is needed. Such a test can pinpoint the exact location of the nerve injury.
Brain imaging tests are not needed unless the health care provider suspects another problem (such as a tumor or stroke).
Adams-Chapman I, Stoll BJ. Nervous system disorders. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 99.
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