Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis: a clinical and electrophysiological follow-up.
Eight patients with acoustic neuroma and five patients with hemifacial spasm, who had undergone hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis 1-14 years previously, were reviewed clinically and electrophysiologically with an electrically elicited blink reflex. Functional recovery from the anastomosis, as rigorously judged on a scale of good, fair and poor, was fair to poor. Electrically it was found that the blink reflex was present in eight patients, suggesting facial nerve re-innervation of the facial musculature. This was confirmed by the mild recurrence of hemifacial spasm in four patients. Implications for the future role of this operative procedure are discussed.
Iansek
R
R
Harrison
M J
MJ
Andrew
J
J
D005152:Facial Muscles; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D013035:Spasm / Q000601:surgery*