XXXX for early facial reanimation.

@entity1 @entity6256 @entity2103 @entity7871 @entity3541 @entity717 @entity912
OBJECTIVE: Early repair of @entity3541 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 @entity1 (2 males, 5 @entity1 ) with unilateral @entity3541 underwent a @entity7871 with an interpositional nerve graft of the great auricular nerve. The interval between the onset of @entity912 and surgery ranged from 8 to 48 months (mean 19.2 months). All @entity1 included in the study had signs of facial mimetic muscle fibrillations on electromyography. The degree of preoperative @entity2103 was grade VI following the House-Brackmann scale for all @entity1 . RESULTS: At the time of the study, all the @entity1 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. @entity717 appeared while the @entity1 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 @entity6256 because of similar @entity2103 and lower morbidity.
