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Updated: Oct 19, 2025
Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Facial nerve sacrifice in lateral approaches to the skull base: Simultaneous reconstruction by graft interposition
Daniela Parrino1, Sebastiano Franchella2, Anna Chiara Frigo3
1Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
Purpose:
To evaluate the outcome of facial nerve (FN) cable graft interposition in lateral skull base surgery.
Materials And Methods:
A group of 16 patients who underwent FN graft interposition procedure was retrospectively considered. Postoperative FN function was evaluated using the House-Brackmann (HB) grading system, the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS), the Facial Disability Index (FDI) and the Oral Functioning Scale (OFS) questionnaires.
Results:
56.2% of patients had a good postoperative FN outcome (HB grade II-III). Postoperative electromyography (EMG) showed re-innervation potentials in 60% of patients; median age of these patients was significantly lower compared to who did not manifest re-innervation (p = 0.039).
Conclusion:
FN primary reconstruction remains the advisable rehabilitative option when the nerve is interrupted during lateral skull base surgeries, allowing to satisfactory postoperative results in more than half of patients. EMG confirmed the restoring of nerve conduction and it was more frequent in younger patients. The SFGS, the FDI and the OFS are important tools especially in the setting of a rehabilitation program.
