title: Selective experimental reinnervation of paralyzed facial muscles.
abstract: Amelioration of facial nerve dysfunction has been variably successful and often has resulted in only gross motion. An experimental model has been developed whereby the nerve-muscle pedicle technique used to reinnervate the larynx has been modified to achieve selective reinnervation of paralyzed facial muscles. A series of rabbits underwent facial denervation, following which a nerve-muscle pedicle was transposed to the denervated zygomaticus muscle to achieve selective reinnervation. Subsequent follow-up showed good clinical evidence of reinnervation one to four weeks postoperatively. This was confirmed by electromyographic and histologic findings. It is suggested that the nerve-muscle technique that has been used to correct laryngeal paralysis also may be applied to the selective reinnervation of paralyzed facial muscles.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003714:Denervation; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D009474:Neurons / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits