[Histopathological study on traumatic facial nerve injury in the rabbits]

Six patterns of injuries (exposure, compression, crush, stretch, division and post-division anastomosis) were analysed in 136 facial nerve buccal branches of 68 rabbits in order to establish the experimental model for study of traumatic facial nerve injury. Changes of histopathology at definite time were studied. The results showed that: exposure can create degree I injury; compression, stretch and crush can create degree II-III injury; the prognosis in anastomosis group was obviously better than unanastomosis group. In moderate to serious injuries, changes of histopathology and ENoG were synchronized, but were not so in mild and later stage of serious injury. The 15th day postinjury was the best time of estimating the facial nerve function clinically. The area of injury would obviously influence the mylin lesion, while the quality and degree of injury would obviously influence the axonal lesion.