title: Donor site morbidity of greater auricular nerve graft harvesting.
abstract: To better understand the risks of obtaining greater auricular nerve (GAN) grafts, a retrospective analysis of 29 patients who underwent GAN graft procurement between 1985 and 1990 was conducted. No short-term morbidity was noted. Thirteen patients developed symptomatic nerve injuries, of which 6 reported spontaneous resolution in an average of 4.6 months. Three patients developed neuromas and 1 formed a hypertrophic scar. Persistent nerve injury symptoms were well tolerated in all but one patient, who developed sympathetic-mediated pain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000294:innervation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D009463:Neuroma / Q000209:etiology; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000293:injuries*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects*