Objective: Early repair of facial nerve paralysis when cortical neural input cannot be provided by the facial nerve nucleus, is generally accomplished anastomozing the extracranial stump of the facial nerve to a motor donor nerve. That is generally the hypoglossus, which carries a variable degree of morbidity. The present work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the masseteric nerve as donor for early facial reanimation, with the advantage that harvesting is associated with negligible morbidity. Methods: Between October 2007 and August 2009, 7 patients (2 males, 5 women) with unilateral facial paralysis underwent a masseter-facial nerves anastomosis with an interpositional nerve graft of the great auricular nerve. The interval between the onset of paralysis and surgery ranged from 8 to 48 months (mean 19.2 months). All patients included in the study had signs of facial mimetic muscle fibrillations on electromyography. The degree of preoperative facial nerve dysfunction was grade VI following the House-Brackmann scale for all patients. Results: At the time of the study, all the patients with a minimum follow-up time of 12 months after the onset of mimetic function had recovered facial animation. Facial muscles showed signs of recovery within 2-9 months, mean 4.8 months, with the restoration of facial symmetry at rest. Facial movements appeared while the patients activated their chewing musculature. Morbidity related to this intervention is only the loss of sensitivity of earlobe and preauricular region. Conclusion: The present technique seems to be a valid alternative to classical hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis because of similar facial nerve recovery and lower morbidity.

Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation / Biglioli, F; Frigerio, A; Colombo, V; Colletti, G; Rabbiosi, D; Mortini, P; Dalla Toffola, E; Lozza, A; Brusati, R. - In: JOURNAL OF CRANIO-MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY. - ISSN 1010-5182. - 40:2(2012), pp. 149-155. [10.1016/j.jcms.2011.03.005]

Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation

Colletti G;
2012

Abstract

Objective: Early repair of facial nerve paralysis when cortical neural input cannot be provided by the facial nerve nucleus, is generally accomplished anastomozing the extracranial stump of the facial nerve to a motor donor nerve. That is generally the hypoglossus, which carries a variable degree of morbidity. The present work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the masseteric nerve as donor for early facial reanimation, with the advantage that harvesting is associated with negligible morbidity. Methods: Between October 2007 and August 2009, 7 patients (2 males, 5 women) with unilateral facial paralysis underwent a masseter-facial nerves anastomosis with an interpositional nerve graft of the great auricular nerve. The interval between the onset of paralysis and surgery ranged from 8 to 48 months (mean 19.2 months). All patients included in the study had signs of facial mimetic muscle fibrillations on electromyography. The degree of preoperative facial nerve dysfunction was grade VI following the House-Brackmann scale for all patients. Results: At the time of the study, all the patients with a minimum follow-up time of 12 months after the onset of mimetic function had recovered facial animation. Facial muscles showed signs of recovery within 2-9 months, mean 4.8 months, with the restoration of facial symmetry at rest. Facial movements appeared while the patients activated their chewing musculature. Morbidity related to this intervention is only the loss of sensitivity of earlobe and preauricular region. Conclusion: The present technique seems to be a valid alternative to classical hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis because of similar facial nerve recovery and lower morbidity.
2012
40
2
149
155
Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation / Biglioli, F; Frigerio, A; Colombo, V; Colletti, G; Rabbiosi, D; Mortini, P; Dalla Toffola, E; Lozza, A; Brusati, R. - In: JOURNAL OF CRANIO-MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY. - ISSN 1010-5182. - 40:2(2012), pp. 149-155. [10.1016/j.jcms.2011.03.005]
Biglioli, F; Frigerio, A; Colombo, V; Colletti, G; Rabbiosi, D; Mortini, P; Dalla Toffola, E; Lozza, A; Brusati, R
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
24 Masseteric Facial Nerve.pdf

Accesso riservato

Dimensione 1.76 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.76 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1252027
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 9
  • Scopus 79
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 60
social impact