Chronic Facial Nerve Neuropathy as a Manifestation of Comorbid Vascular Pathology

INTRODUCTION. Chronic facial nerve neuropathy (FNN) is a clinically significant condition accompanied by persistent motor, functional and aesthetic impairments. In the presence of vascular and somatic comorbidities, the disease tends to develop a prolonged course with pronounced clinical polymorphism. AIM. To study the clinical features and severity of functional facial nerve impairments in patients with chronic facial nerve neuropathy associated with comorbid vascular pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 160 patients aged 16 to 70 years with chronic facial nerve neuropathy of various etiologies were examined during 2023–2025 at the Neurology Department of the Samarkand City Medical Association and the Oriyo Estet Medical Clinic. The severity of facial nerve involvement was assessed using the House-Brackmann clinical scale and the quantitative Yanagihara System scale. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Middle-aged and elderly patients predominated in the study population. Vascular pathology associated with arterial hypertension, cerebral atherosclerosis, dyscirculatory encephalopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus was identified as the leading etiological factor contributing to the chronic course of facial nerve neuropathy. According to the House-Brackmann scale, grade III facial nerve dysfunction was most frequently observed. The Yanagihara System scale provided a more detailed assessment of facial muscle dysfunction and revealed differences in the severity of functional impairment depending on the degree of comorbid vascular burden. CONCLUSION. Chronic facial nerve neuropathy in most patients develops in the context of vascular comorbidity and is characterized by predominantly moderate functional impairments. The combined use of the House-Brackmann and Yanagihara System scales allows for a more accurate clinical assessment of facial nerve dysfunction in chronic disease. KEYWORDS: chronic facial nerve neuropathy, vascular comorbidity, facial muscles, House-Brackmann scale, Yanagihara System scale

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