|
|
|
|
The seventh cranial nerve (cranial nerve 7). The facial nerve branches Because of the proximity of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves the facial nerve is vulnerable to injury during procedures for resection of vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) which arise from the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. The larger the tumor, the less likely that facial nerve function will be spared during the resection. Facial nerve monitoring is done during resection of vestibular schwannomas to alert the surgeon when injury to the facial nerve is being done.
Facial nerve function Grading System (House-Brackmann): six grades of asymmetry resulting from unilateral (one-sided) facial nerve weakness: 1. normal, 2. slight weakness, 3. obvious but not disfiguring asymmetry, 4. obvious and disfiguring asymmetry, 5. barely perceptible facial movement on the affected side, and 6. total paralysis
Facial muscle reanimation procedures: Facial nerve functional loss following resection of a vestibular schwannoma (aka: acoustic neuroma) can sometimes be restored by anatomosis between the facial and the: 1. hypoglossal nerve: "hypoglossal-facial anastomosis", 2. accessory nerve: "accessory-facial anastomosis", or 3. phrenic nerve: "phrenic-facial anastomosis"
|
|
||
|
Return to uscneurosurgery.com Homepage
|
|||
