The Feasibility of Using the Posterior Auricular Branch of the Facial Nerve as a Donor for Facial Nerve Reanimation Procedures: A Cadaveric Study.

Facial nerve paralysis can result in critical complications, including those to the visual, respiratory, and digestive systems. The facial nerve has been reanimated using various nerves, but the posterior auricular nerve (PAN) branching off the facial nerve has not been explored for this purpose. Ten sides from 6 fresh-frozen adult cadavers were used for dissection of the PAN to explore its potential as a donor for facial nerve reanimation. The facial nerve trunk (FNT) and PAN were consistently and readily identified by deep dissection using the tragal cartilage and tragal pointer as landmarks. The PAN was transected at the point of insertion of its innervated muscles. Its length and diameter were measured, and it was transposed anteriorly to the FNT and its 2 major extracranial divisions. The PAN was observed on all sides. Its available length was 27.11 ± 5.02 mm and its mean diameter was 0.85 ± 0.20 mm. In all specimens, the PAN readily reached the FNT and its 2 major divisions without tension. No previous study has explored the use of the PAN as a donor for facial nerve reanimation. Based on the present cadaveric study, surgeons might consider it for this purpose.

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Copyright © 2019 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.