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Facial nerve anastomosis in the mastoid portion using a cable graft. Case report
Affiliations- Katedra i Klinika Neurochirurgii i Neurochirurgii Dziecięcej, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie
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Abstract
We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman in whom surgery for two tumours located in the cerebellar hemisphere and in the posterior petrous bone was complicated by interruption of the facial nerve (CN VII). During the same procedure, anastomosis of CN VII, using a cable graft harvested from the great auricular nerve, was performed. Seven months later the first signs of reinnervation of the facial muscles were noticed. Two and a half years after surgery, CN VII function was assessed as grade II/III according to the House-Brackmann scale. The authors emphasize the significance of immediate repair of CN VII in modern skull base surgery but also the importance of a patient's self-training to obtain the best functional outcome of the facial reanimation. Reconstruction using the great auricular nerve has two significant advantages: first, the patient avoids further procedures for nerve repair, and second, the harvested nerve is located in direct proximity to the operation area.
Abstract
We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman in whom surgery for two tumours located in the cerebellar hemisphere and in the posterior petrous bone was complicated by interruption of the facial nerve (CN VII). During the same procedure, anastomosis of CN VII, using a cable graft harvested from the great auricular nerve, was performed. Seven months later the first signs of reinnervation of the facial muscles were noticed. Two and a half years after surgery, CN VII function was assessed as grade II/III according to the House-Brackmann scale. The authors emphasize the significance of immediate repair of CN VII in modern skull base surgery but also the importance of a patient's self-training to obtain the best functional outcome of the facial reanimation. Reconstruction using the great auricular nerve has two significant advantages: first, the patient avoids further procedures for nerve repair, and second, the harvested nerve is located in direct proximity to the operation area.
Keywords
facial nerve palsy, great auricular nerve, cable graft
About this articleTitle
Facial nerve anastomosis in the mastoid portion using a cable graft. Case report
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
505-509
Page views
306
Article views/downloads
541
DOI
10.1016/S0028-3843(14)60320-0
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2011;45(5):505-509.
Keywords
facial nerve palsy
great auricular nerve
cable graft
Authors
Przemysław Kunert
Marcin Skawiński
Andrzej Marchel
