Summary
On account of the complex anatomy at the base of skull, surgery here may result in post operative cranial n. deficits. Facial palsy is often feared and its effects upon the patient's psychological and emotional well-being can be catastrophic. The modest results and the side effects of the facio-hypoglossal anastomosis used for facial rehabilitation have led us to consider an anastomosis between a motor branch of the trigeminal n. and the facial n. Dissection has allowed us to demonstrate that the masseteric n. offers the characteristics and the relationships which should make such an anastomosis feasible.
Résumé
Une paralysie faciale périphérique est une séquelle difficilement acceptable pour les patients qui en sont victimes après certaines interventions neuro-chirurgicales ou oto-rhino-laryngologiques. Les résultats modestes et les inconvénients des anastomoses hypoglosso-faciales au cours des tentatives de réhabilitation faciale nous ont conduit à nous interroger sur la possibilité d'une anastomose entre une branche motrice du n. mandibulaire et le n. facial. Les dissections nous ont permis de montrer que le n. massétérique présente des caractéristiques macroscopiques et des rapports qui doivent permettre la réalisation de telles anatomoses.
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Fournier, H.D., Denis, F., Papon, X. et al. An anatomical study of the motor distribution of the mandibular nerve for a masseteric-facial anastomosis to restore facial function. Surg Radiol Anat 19, 241–244 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627866
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627866