1. Furukawa H, Saito A, Mol W, Sekido M, Sasaki S, Yamamoto Y. Double innervation occurs in the facial mimetic muscles after facial-hypoglossal end-to-side neural repair: rat model for neural supercharge concept. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2008;61(3):257–64. 2. Terzis JK, Wang W, Zhao Y. Effect of axonal load on the functional and aesthetic outcomes of the cross-facial nerve graft procedure...

OBJECTIVE To describe a minimally invasive approach of the temporalis tendon transposition technique for dynamic reanimation in patients with long-standing facial paralysis. METHODS We report a case series of 17 consecutive patients with facial paralysis who underwent minimally invasive temporalis tendon transposition surgery for dynamic facial reanimation between January 1, 2006, and Decembe...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to review the recipient vessels used in our cases of facial reanimation with free functional muscle transfer and to identify patient variables that may predict when the facial vessels are absent. From this we present a protocol for vessel selection in cases when the facial artery and/or vein are absent. METHODS Patients were identified from November 2006 t...

IMPORTANCE Neuromuscular reanimation of the face provides the correct specific neural functional input and thereby prevents synkinesis. Unfortunately, this ideal situation is rarely encountered in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVES To assess the technical feasibility of and define the surgical procedure for harvesting the sternohyoid muscle as a novel free flap for use in facial reanimation ind...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The hypoglossal-facial-anastomosis is the most often applied procedure for the reanimation of a long lasting peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The use of an interposition graft and its end-to-side anastomosis to the hypoglossal nerve allows the preservation of the tongue function and also requires two anastomosis sites and a free second donor nerve. We describe the modifi...

BACKGROUND The latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap has been widely used in facial reanimation surgery. However, there are no standards to what degree the muscle flap may be safely thinned because the three-dimensional positional relationship of thoracodorsal artery, vein, and nerve inside the LD muscle is poorly understood. METHODS From 18 formalin-fixed cadavers, we made 36 transparent specime...

PURPOSE: Two-stage facial reanimation procedures with a cross-facial nerve graft often yield less predictable results in older patients due to multifactorial reasons. Some studies strongly suggest that increased donor nerve axonal load improves function of a free muscle transfer after a crossfacial nerve graft. However, strong studies characterizing the relationship between age and facial nerve...

PURPOSE: Two-stage facial reanimation procedures with a cross-facial nerve graft often yield less predictable results in older patients due to multifactorial reasons. Some studies strongly suggest that increased donor nerve axonal load improves function of a free muscle transfer after a crossfacial nerve graft. However, strong studies characterizing the relationship between age and facial nerve...

BACKGROUND Hypoglossal-facial anastomosis is the gold standard treatment for facial reanimation in those cases where the facial nerve has been damaged near the brainstem. The technique that requires temporal bone drilling and partial section of the hypoglossal nerve is usually preferred. This technique diminishes tongue morbidity while preserves good facial reanimation. The goal of the present ...