FACIAL-NERVE RECONSTRUCTION IN NEUROFIBROMATOSIS-2

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.