[Transferring neurovascular rectus femoris muscle segment for treatment of facial paralysis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a new technique for functional treatment of chronic facial paralysis.


METHODS
Based on anatomy of intramuscular neurovascular structure in the rectus femoris muscle, 7 consecutive patients with facial paralysis were treated by using a technique of microsurgically free-transferring neurovascular rectus femoris muscle segment to the face in one-stage. Follow-ups were 10 to 24 months.


RESULTS
All of the 7 patients showed significantly improvement in the appearance of the oral commissure and oral competence. No complications occurred in the donor site.


CONCLUSIONS
The above mentioned technique may have the advantages of preventing the intramuscular nerve and vessel from the surgical injury during splitting the muscle. It could also maintain the transferred muscular segment in a proper tension in the recipient site.
Yang
Da-ping
DP
Division of Plastic Surgery, 2nd Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China.
Guan
De-hong
DH
Xu
Xue-wu
XW
Guo
Tie-fang
TF
Han
Xue-feng
XF
D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D016896:Treatment Outcome