title: Facial reinnervation after facial paralysis: is it ever too late?
abstract: Following Conley's work on facial nerve cross-over surgery in long-standing facial paralysis, we have reviewed five cases of paralysis of 2.5-7 years' duration. All had complete absence of electrical activity on preoperative EMG and ENG studies. In four of the five cases the facial nerve was not severely atrophic and a "cross-over" technique was feasible. Post-operatively, the results were electrically and clinically good to excellent. To foresee the results of facial nerve cross-over surgery, we have found that the degree of atrophy of the affected nerve at the time of reconstructive surgery is a more important factor than the time lapse since the beginning of the paralysis. Those results also seem better in younger patients. Our findings suggest that hypoglossal-facial cross-overs be considered even 3 years after a paralysis, mostly in younger patients, when the nerve is not severely atrophic. In some cases this technique can be complemented by muscular transfers or selected cosmetic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hôpital Notre-Dame, University of Montreal, P.Q., Canada.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molina-Negro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009416:Nerve Regeneration