FACIAL-NERVE PALSY - WHICH FLAP - MICROSURGICAL, ANATOMICAL, AND FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

In the microsurgical therapy of facial nerve palsy, the muscles most f requently utilized have been gracilis, latissimus dorsi, and pectorali s minor, this depending upon surgeons' personal experience. However, a t the moment no satisfactory comparison studies are available; this wo rk is a comparative study of the three most often used cadaver-derived muscles in surgical therapy of facial nerve palsy. The potential use of gracilis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis minor as free flaps has been assessed by analyzing their microsurgical, anatomical and functio nal parameters. Suitability has been evaluated by scoring each paramet er from 0 to 3 (unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, and excellent resp ectively). The results may provide the surgeon who undertakes this kin d of technique with a useful data comparison. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc .