CO2-LASER REPAIR OF THE FACIAL-NERVE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE RAT

The facial nerve is often injured by trauma, infection or during the c ourse of tumour resection. Many techniques of nerve anastomosis have b een described with the current standard nerve repair using the microsc ope and monofilament suture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CO2 surgical laser as a tool for facial nerve anastomosis. Follow ing preliminary electrical measurements 36 nerves were anastomosed usi ng either laser or conventional monofilament suture. Laser anastomosis had neither beneficial nor detrimental effects on nerve regeneration. This method of anastomosis may be advantageous when surgical access i s limited. In addition this study found that the use of CO2 laser as a dissecting or vapourizing tool in proximity to intact facial nerves r esults in degenerative changes.