Follow-up study of spinal accessory-facial nerve anastomosis with special reference to the electromyographic findings

Abstract

Since the first suggestions for anastomosis between the spinal accessory and facial nerves (Drobnik,

Facial Reanimation Using the Masseter-to-Facial Nerve Transfer

“…Transferring the spinal accessory or phrenic nerve can also be associated with significant functional impairment, including shoulder weakness and hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. 5,6,17,18 Donor-site morbidity using the contralateral facial nerve is characteristically low; however, the prospect of damaging the normal facial nerve during operative exploration remains an inherent risk.…”

Selective role of partial XI‐VII anastomosis in facial reanimation

“…This method was first described by Bragdon and Gray 6 in 1962 as a method to avoid deinnervation of the trapezius muscle. A further series by Thulin et al 7 in 1964 described a similar technique on 15 patients who achieved good reanimation results, but some degree of atrophy and weakness of the trapezius muscle occurred in all but two of the patients. DeAmicis 8 presented the next largest series in 1977, when he described a series of 54 patients who achieved reasonable to satisfactory results in 70% of the cases, but some degree of atrophy of the trapezius muscle in some patients was still noted.…”

Donor Nerve Selection in Facial Reanimation Surgery

“…21 Thulin reported his experience with SCM branch transfers in 15 patients. 22 Good motion developed in more than half of the subjects and no patient experienced debilitating atrophy of the trapezius muscle.…”