ABSTRACT
The cross-face nerve graft and the interpositional jump graft were performed simultaneously
for 13 patients with facial paralysis. The period between the onset of paralysis and
surgery ranged from 3 to 32 weeks. In nine patients, surgery was performed within
3 months of the onset of paralysis. The patients in whom reinnervation by both grafts
succeeded could smile without closing their eyes by moving the tongue and could close
the eye on the affected side without an accompanying oral movement. The expression
was natural and included fine muscle movements. Spontaneous recovery of the facial
nerve was observed in three patients. Among patients who showed functional recovery
without spontaneous recovery, House-Brackman's palsy grade was II in one patient,
III in five patients, and IV in one patient. Functional deficits of the tongue were
not observed. We recommend that this surgery be performed within 3 months of onset
of paralysis.
KEYWORDS
Hypoglossal-facial nerve jump graft - cross-face nerve graft - end-to-side neurorrhaphy
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Kazuki UedaM.D.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Fukushima Medical University
1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295 Japan
