Face the Facts

Question: A 42 year old female undergoes uncomplicated tympanomastoidectomy for an epitympanic retraction with cholesteatoma.  Only a simple mastoidectomy is completed without facial recess approach.  The facial nerve was not dehiscent in the middle ear and the nerve monitor did not alarm during the procedure.  Immediately postoperatively, she manifests House Brackmann grade 6 ipsilateral facial function without any other neurologic findings.  What is the first step to take in this situation? [Answer will be posted with next week's new question]

Answer to last week's question, "Blood Supply and Demand" (August 7, 2017)

Laryngeal chondroradionecrosis.