Restoration of selective facial nerve function by the nerve-muscle pedicle technique.

The nerve-muscle pedicle technique for selective reinnervation of paralyzed facial muscles, when combined with a modified muscle-fascia sling and neurotization from the temporal muscle, has been applied in 26 patients to date. The success rate has been 88 per cent for restoration of tonus and 77 per cent for restoration of voluntary motion as well. This procedure offers several significant advantages over other accepted means of reinnervation in patients in whom the seventh nerve itself is not available as a source for restoration of function. It also may have value as a method for rapid restoration of tonus while other means of reinnervation take effect.