Using an end-to-side interposed sural nerve graft for facial nerve reinforcement after vestibular schwannoma resection. Technical note.

• Abstract: Increasing rates of facial and cochlear nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma surgery have been achieved in the last 30 years. However, the management of a partially or completely damaged facial nerve remains an important issue. In such a case, several immediate or delayed repair techniques have been used. On the basis of recent studies of successful end-to-side neurorrhaphy, the authors applied this technique in a patient with an anatomically preserved but partially injured facial nerve during vestibular schwannoma surgery. The authors interposed a sural nerve graft to reinforce the facial nerve whose partial anatomical continuity had been preserved. On follow-up examinations 18 months after surgery, satisfactory cosmetic results for facial nerve function were observed. The end-to-side interposed nerve graft appears to be a reasonable alternative in cases of partial facial nerve injury, and might be a future therapeutic option for other cranial nerve injuries.
• Authors: Madjid Samii, Andrei Koerbel, Sam Safavi-Abbasi, Federico Di Rocco, Amir Samii, Alireza Gharabaghi (Affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, International Neuroscience Institute, Hannover, Germany. samii at ini-hannover.de)
• Journal: Journal of neurosurgery (J Neurosurg) Vol. 105 Issue 6 Pg. 920-3 (Dec 2006) ISSN: 0022-3085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17405267 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fibrin Tissue Adhesive

Topics

• Anastomosis, Surgical (methods)
• Craniotomy
• Electromyography
• Facial Muscles (innervation)
• Facial Nerve (surgery)
• Fibrin Tissue Adhesive
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Microsurgery (methods)
• Middle Aged
• Monitoring, Intraoperative
• Nerve Regeneration (physiology)
• Neuroma, Acoustic (diagnosis, surgery)
• Peripheral Nerves (transplantation)