An International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Clinics

Register      Login

VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 2 ( May-August, 2021 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

The First Report on Masseteric–Facial Nerve Anastomosis in Thailand

Kritsada Kowitwibool, Tanom Bunaprasert

Keywords : Dynamic facial reanimation, Facial palsy, Facial reanimation, Masseteric nerve, Masseteric to facial reanimation, Nerve anastomosis, Nerve graft, V-VII anastomosis

Citation Information : Kowitwibool K, Bunaprasert T. The First Report on Masseteric–Facial Nerve Anastomosis in Thailand. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2021; 13 (2):64-66.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10003-1375

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 20-11-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: To demonstrate the first report on Masseteric–facial nerve reanimation in Thailand. Background: Facial nerve paralysis is devastating for patients. Most of the patients suffer from stigma and social phobia. There are many options for treating the facial nerve paralysis including dynamic and static procedures dependent on the patient situation. Masseteric–facial nerve reanimation is a dynamic procedure suitable for the patient in the absence of a proximal facial nerve stump, with low donor site deformity and being easy to train in the postreanimation phase. We applied the first facial reanimation by masseteric–facial nerve anastomosis to a Thai patient. Review result: The patient had right facial nerve paralysis from the right temporal bone fracture in a motorcycle accident. The patient developed delayed onset of complete paralysis. After exploration, operative findings showed a torn right facial nerve at the tympanic segment of the geniculate ganglion and second genu. Masseteric–facial nerve anastomosis was applied for this patient. The right greater auricular nerve was used for the nerve graft to connect between the proximal stump of the masseteric nerve and the distal stump of the main trunk facial nerve. There were no postoperative complications. After 3 months, the postoperative facial muscle tone returned and after 4 months, when the patient tried chewing using the masseter muscle, some movement of the facial muscle was detected. Conclusion: Masseteric–facial nerve reanimation is the treatment of choice for dynamic facial nerve reanimation in facial nerve paralysis patients where the proximal nerve stump is absent or in the cases of intratemporal injury to the facial nerves.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Jowett N, Hadlock TA. A contemporary approach to facial reanimation. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2015;17(4):293–300. DOI: 10.1001/jamafacial.2015.0399.
  2. Fisher M, Zhang Y, Erdmann D, et al. Dissection of the masseter branch of the trigeminal nerve for facial reanimation. Plast Reconstr Surg 2013;131(5):1065–1067. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318287a095.
  3. Spira, M. Anastomosis of masseteric nerve to lower division of facial nerve for correction of lower facial paralysis. Plast Reconstr Surg 1978;61(3):330–334. DOI: 10.1097/00006534-197803000-00004.
  4. Biglioli F, Frigerio A, Colombo B, et al. Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2012;40(2):149–155. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2011.03.005.
  5. Klebuc MJA. Facial reanimation using the masseter-to-facial nerve transfer. Plast Reconstr Surg 2011;127(5):1909–1915. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31820e9138.
  6. Wang W, Yang C, Li Q, et al. Masseter-to-facial nerve transfer a highly effective technique for facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma resection. Ann Plast Surg 2014;73(Suppl. 1):S63–S69. DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000246.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.