[Applied anatomic study on the repair of the facial nerve defect by the anastomosis of the facial nerve with the phrenic nerve].
OBJECTIVE
To explore of the anatomic basis of the anastomosis of the facial nerve with the phrenic nerve.


METHODS
Bilateral microsurgical dissection was performed on eleven human cadavers fixed with formalin. The following length data were measured with calipers: the distance between the bifurcation of the facial nerve trunk and the phrenic nerve root, the useful length of the facial nerve trunk and the phrenic nerve, and the distance between the overlapped nerve ends.


RESULTS
The length from the root of the the phrenic nerve to the level of the subclavian vein was (7.2 +/- 1.6) cm. The length from the root of the phrenic nerve to the bifurcation of the facial nerve trunk was (7.23 +/- 0.9) cm. The length from the bifurcation of the facial nerve trunk to the level below the horizontal semicircular canal was 2.7-3.5 cm, 1.0-1.5 cm longer than that cut below the level of the stylomastoid foramen. The cutting nerve ends were placed side by side. The distance between the overlapped nerve ends was 0.4-1.8 cm.


CONCLUSIONS
In 20 specimens the tension-free anastomosis of the facial nerve with the phrenic nerve that cut in the subclavian vein level can be achieved, in 2 specimens the tension-free anastomosis can not be achieved.
Ma
Yan
Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Zhao
Xia
X
Lu
Fei
F
Yan
Wenhong
W
Tan
Deyan
D
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery