Outcome of using the spinal accessory nerve for functional muscle innervation in facial paralysis reconstruction: The first two cases in Vietnam and literature review

Abstract

Facial nerve injuries with various causes, such as after trauma, tumor dissection, radiotherapy, etc., resulting the patient's functional, aesthetic, and psychological sequelae. For many decades, plastic surgeons have introduced numerous different nerve sources to overcome the above sequelae, such as contralateral facial nerve, the hypoglosal nerve, the masseter nerve, and the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI). There were various advantages and disadvantages of donor nerves sources. However, the use of ipsilateral donor nerve is said to have many benefits. In this report, we would like to present preliminary results of using the CN XI source in treatment of subacute and chronic VII nerve injury. These were the first two cases of successful surgery using this nerve source in Vietnam. Keywords: Facial nerve injury, facial paralysis, nerve transfer, spinal accessory nerve.