[Clinical application of unimportant branches of facial nerve to repair important ones].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility and clinical effect of repairing important branches of facial nerve (zygomatic and marginal mandibular branches) with unimportant ones (upper buccal and cervical branches).


METHODS
The defect of zygomatic and marginal mandibular branches was repaired with upper buccal and cervical branches, respectively. After the length of facial nerve defect was measured, the distal part of the upper buccal and cervical branches with peripheral tissue was used to repair the defect. Under operating microscope, nerve anastomosis was performed with 9-0 suture. 5 cases suffering from defect of marginal mandibular branches were repaired with cervical branches, and 7 cases with defect of zygomatic branches were repaired with upper buccal branches.


RESULTS
In 5 cases suffering from defect of marginal mandibular branches, 2 cases recovered in 3 months, and 3 cases recovered in 6 months; In 7 cases suffering from defect of zygomatic branches, all recovered in 3-4 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Repair of defect of zygomatic and marginal mandibular branches with upper buccal and cervical branches is feasible and the result is acceptable.
Wang
Xu-kai
XK
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China. wangxukai757892@sina.com
Han
Si-yuan
SY
Tan
Xue-xin
XX
Lu
Li
L
Wang
Yu-xin
YX
D005154:Facial Nerve; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008853:Microscopy; D009333:Neck; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures