Nerve Injuries in Traumatic Head Injury: When To Explore/Suture/Transplant?

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Abstract

The face is a complex anatomical unit characterized by different kinds of tissues contained within a small space. In particular, the repair of peripheral nerve lesions due to bone fractures and/or soft tissue injuries is a major challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Prior to surgical therapy, a detailed analysis of (a) the patient’s history, (b) the physical and neurological examination, (c) the etiology, (d) the localization of the lesion site, (e) the denervation time, (f) the degree of the nerve lesion, and (g) the degree of functional loss is required. The purpose of this chapter is to present the indications and therapeutical options for the treatment of nerve injuries of the face. These include nonsurgical and surgical options. Surgical options include dynamic strategies such as neurolysis, epineural suture repair, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, regional muscle transfer, and microneurovascular free muscle transfer, as well as static strategies such as fascial slings and cosmetic procedures.

Keywords

Facial Nerve Facial Nerve Paralysis Muscle Flap Masseter Muscle Nerve Grafting 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery – Burns UnitRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany

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