Abstract
This chapter explores the challenges in facial nerve reconstruction and discusses how the evolution of microsurgery and understanding of nerve biology and anatomy has enhanced surgical outcomes. An evidence-based discussion guides the reader through the progression of facial nerve reconstruction from non-vascularized- to vascularized nerve grafts and evaluates important aspects of blood supply, nerve regeneration, and functional outcomes in different donor and recipient scenarios. The application of vascularized nerve grafts is specifically discussed in the context of facial nerve reconstruction in the head and neck cancer patient. This challenging patient group with unfavorable surgical conditions such as irradiation, long nerve gaps and associated soft tissue defects poses a complex array of surgical considerations. The authors present the vascularized nerve graft as part of a chimeric reconstruction in a “one-stop-shop” procedure, demonstrating not only the evolution of surgical aptitude, but also its potential in improving functional outcomes.
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Dimovska, E.O.F., Zabojova, J., Rodríguez-Lorenzo, A. (2021). Vascularized Nerve Grafts in Facial Nerve Reconstruction. In: Tzou, CH.J., Rodríguez-Lorenzo, A. (eds) Facial Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50784-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50784-8_9
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