Treating Facial Paralysis by Neurotization - Direct Implant of the Nerve to the Muscle

Directly implanting nerve stumps into innervated facial muscles (neurotizations) can be a very effective treatment for incomplete facial paralysis.

Results achieved with this procedure often are better than with traditional nerve repair, because only the desired muscle is activated. A nerve graft is used to connect the proximal stump to branches of the facial nerve with the innervated muscle.

Facial muscle neurotization is usually indicated in the treatment of paralysis due to trauma, in which only a few muscles have been damaged.

Good results have been obtained from recovery of the orbicularis muscle in the eyes and mouth (strength M4 by Daniels and Colls' classification). It is believed that the time of the intervention is directly related to the results gained—the shorter the paralysis, the better the results.