title: [Historical development of facial nerve surgery with special reference to hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis].
abstract: In the ancient times, Aristotle, Herophilos, and Galen discovered basic anatomical structures. Paul von Aegina, in the seventh century A.C., had the idea of a nerve suture, which was first performed in an animal 1000 years later by the Italian surgeon Gabriele Ferrara. Systematic investigations on nerve crossing date to the beginning of the nineteenth century and were conducted by Jean Pierre Flourens. Within 1 week in summer 1864, two French surgeons (Laugier and Nélaton) independently carried out the first nerve sutures in humans. Their observations of an immediate functional recovery of the appropriate muscles after suturing were discussed controversially in scientific circles. The first cross nerve suture of the facial nerve (accessory-facial anastomosis) was first performed by Sir Charles Ballance in 1895. In 1901, the German Werner Koerte was the first surgeon to perform a hypoglossal-facial anastomosis in humans. Surprisingly, the theoretical speculations on the good functional recovery, which was noted after these observations, remain up-to-date.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Joseph Stelzmann-Strasse 9, 50924 Köln. michael.streppel@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streppel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heiser
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stennert
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000266:history; D000818:Animals; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000266:history*