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A comprehensive review of the great auricular nerve graft

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Abstract

The great auricular nerve (GAN) is a superficial branch of the cervical plexus that innervates parts of the mandible, auricle, and earlobe. Over the past 30 years, the GAN has become the nerve graft donor of choice for many surgeons for reconstructing injured facial nerves. In this review, we discuss the anatomy and function of the GAN, while focusing on surgical landmarks and the characteristics that make it a suitable nerve graft donor. In addition, we present and summarize published case reports on use of the GAN for grafting. We hope that this review will provide surgeons with an up-to-date and concise reference.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [72].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Cassidy Werner, Joe Iwanaga, Aaron S. Dumont & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Physician Assistant Program, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY, USA

    Anthony V. D’Antoni

  3. Division of Anatomy, Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Anthony V. D’Antoni

  4. Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga & Koichi Watanabe

  5. Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Joe Iwanaga & R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  7. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  8. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

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  1. Cassidy Werner
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The protocol of the study did not require approval by the ethical committees or informed consent. The study followed the Declaration of Helsinki (64th WMA General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013).

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Werner, C., D’Antoni, A.V., Iwanaga, J. et al. A comprehensive review of the great auricular nerve graft. Neurosurg Rev 44, 1987–1995 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-020-01426-9

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