title: Long-term functional recovery after facial nerve transection and repair in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rodent model is commonly used to study facial nerve injury. Because of the exceptional regenerative capacity of the rodent facial nerve, it is essential to consider the timing when studying facial nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Short-term functional recovery data following transection and repair of the facial nerve has been documented by our laboratory. However, because of the limitations of the head fixation device, there is a lack of long-term data following facial nerve injury. The objective of this study was to elucidate the long-term time course and functional deficit following facial nerve transection and repair in a rodent model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult rats were divided into group 1 (controls) and group 2 (experimental). Group 1 animals underwent head fixation, followed by a facial nerve injury, and functional testing was performed from day 7 to day 70. Group 2 animals underwent facial nerve injury, followed by delayed head fixation, and then underwent functional testing from months 6 to 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical difference between the average whisking amplitudes in group 1 and group 2 animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional whisking recovery 6 months after facial nerve injury is comparable to recovery within 1 to 4 months of transection and repair, thus the ideal window for evaluating facial nerve recovery falls within the 4 months after injury.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Caroline A
authors: CA
authors: Banks
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Knox
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Hunter
authors: Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors: Susan E
authors: SE
authors: Mackinnon
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Marc H
authors: MH
authors: Hohman
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Facial Nerve Center, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Tessa A
authors: TA
authors: Hadlock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation*
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