Between 1979 and 1989, 13 patients with neurofibromatosis 2 underwent
reconstructions of the facial nerve after removal of bilateral acousti
c or facial neurinomas. Seven patients received hypoglossal-facial ner
ve anastomosis. and five reveived sural nerve grafting in the cerebell
opontine angle. End-to-end anastomosis and intracranial-intratemporal
sural grafting were performed for one patient each, respectively. Re-i
nnervation was seen in all cases. The results were good in 11 cases. T
wo patients presented with poor results due to development of neurinom
as close to the site of the nerve reconstruction. The importance of re
constructive surgery in patients with neurofibromatosis is stressed. T
he problems regarding failure of re-innervation in some cases and diff
iculties in their management are discussed.