Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation

Early repair of facial nerve paralysis when cortical neural input cannot be provided by the facial nerve nucleus, is generally accopmplished anastomozing the extracranial stump of the facial nerve to a motor donor nerve. The present work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the masseteric nerve as donor for early facial reanimation, with the advantage that harvesting is associated with nrgligible morbidity