Facial Nerve Grafting: Indication and Techniques

Darrouzet, Vincent; de Mones del Pujol, Erwan

Facial Nerve Grafting: Indication and Techniques

Open Education Resource

2025-03-08

Abstract

The facial nerve is at risk in trauma of the temporal bone and face. It can also be harmed in surgery for tumours of the parotid, temporal bone or cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Often it is only a transient injury, and purely inflammatory in nature. But sometimes, despite the progress of otoneurosurgery and technical refinements limiting the risk of severe damage to a healthy nerve, and especially because some lesions interrupt or invade the nerve, the surgeon may have to manage a loss of actual nerve tissue. In either situation, nerve graft is the best solution, provided that it is technically possible and that it is carried out according to the very precise rules that we describe in this chapter. It should be noted that the technique used depends on the site and the nature of the trauma.