Facial nerve paralysis is a common problem that involves the paralysis of any structures innervated by the facial nerve.  The pathway of the facial nerve is long and relatively convoluted, and so there are a number of causes that may result in facial nerve paralysis.  The most common is Bell's Palsy, a disease that may only be diagnosed by exclusion.  A facial nerve palsy may be caused by physical trauma, especially fractures of the temporal bone.  Other causes include herpes zoster infection and tumors that compress the facial nerve anywhere along its complex pathway.  Common tumor culprits are facial neuromas, congenital cholesteatomas, acoustic neuromas, parotid gland neoplasms, or metastases (spread) of other tumors.