Free revascularised muscle grafts reinnervated by cross facial nerve grafts.
In an attempt to restore more normal voluntary and involuntary movement to the paralysed face, free revascularised muscle grafts were inserted in 7 patients, all of whom had a non-functioning perioral and lower cheek musculature on one side. This procedure was preceded by a cross facial nerve graft in order to supply the nerve fibres to the graft as soon after its insertion as possible. The clinical and electromyographical results are discussed and together have provided sufficient evidence to indicate that the technique works effectively.
D000328:Adult; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous