Facial baroparesis secondary to middle-ear over-pressure: a rare complication of scuba diving.

A facial nerve palsy, as a result of middle-ear high pressure, is a rare complication of sub-aqua diving. It may occur as a result of an acute pressure change in the middle ear during ascent in those patients who have experienced difficulty equalizing their middle-ear pressure during the prior descent. We present the case history of this occurring in a 21-year-old diver and discuss the pathophysiology, management and the previous literature. The correct diagnosis of this condition is important if unnecessary, and potentially hazardous, recompression treatment is to be avoided.