Smiling is an important aspect of emotional expression and social interaction, leaving facial palsy patients with impaired social functioning and decreased overall quality of life. Although there are several techniques available for facial reanimation, staged facial reanimation using donor nerve branches from the contralateral, functioning facial nerve connected to a cross-face nerve graft (CFN...

Background Extirpation of aggressive parotid or cutaneous facial tumors often involves facial nerve sacrifice and the creation of a large soft-tissue defect. We describe a method for single-stage reconstruction during radical parotidectomy to restore facial form and function without additional morbidity. Methods We conducted a review of immediate reconstruction/reanimation of radical parotidect...

Nerve transfer procedures have the potential to restore innervation and function native facial musculature. This review summarizes existing literature on nerve injury, regeneration, reinnervation techniques with a focus its various options. Utilizing as early possible, ideally during first 12 months of paralysis, is recommended. Prolonged paralysis frequently not amenable transfer. The masseter...

The management of facial paralysis is one of the most complex areas of reconstructive surgery. Given the wide variety of functional and cosmetic deficits in the facial paralysis patient, the reconstructive surgeon requires a thorough understanding of the surgical techniques available to treat this condition. This review article will focus on surgical management of facial paralysis and the treat...

The aim of this paper was to report on further experience with a new technique for reanimation of the facial nerve. This procedure allows a straight end-to-side hypoglossal-facial anastomosis without interruption of the 12th cranial nerve or the need for graft interposition. It is technically demanding and time consuming but offers an effective, reliable, and extraordinarily quick means of rein...

BACKGROUND Two-stage facial reanimation procedures with a cross-facial nerve graft often have unsatisfactory results in the older patient. Although the cause of result variability is likely multifactorial, some studies suggest that increased donor nerve axonal load improves function of a free muscle transfer after a cross-facial nerve graft. This study attempts to characterize the relationship ...

ConClusions: The results show immediate, aesthetic, stable in time improvement, thus confirming this method as a simple technique for static restoration in patients who have lost any functional reconstructive possibility. The method also works in patients who underwent facial reanimation requiring slight aesthetic improvement. The application of the modified technique has led to a new appraisal...

OBJECTIVE To describe a highly quantitative facial function-measuring tool that yields accurate, objective measures of facial position in significantly less time than existing methods. METHODS Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation (FACE) software was designed for facial analysis. Outputs report the static facial landmark positions and dynamic facial movements relevant in facial reanimation...