Single‐stage cross‐facial nerve grafting has a result equivalent to that of two‐stage cross‐facial nerve grafting

BACKGROUNDS: Cross-face nerve grafting (CFNG) is an important treatment for patients with facial palsy. Currently, two-stage CFNG is frequently performed. CFNG is performed first, followed by coaptation when innervation reaches the grafted nerve ending. The present study compared single-stage CFNG with conventional two-stage CFNG. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of 17 patients who underwent CFNG with zygomatic and buccal branch with hypoglossal crossover. Patients with single-stage (group 1) and two-stage (group 2) CFNG were comparatively analyzed 2 years postoperatively. There were nine and eight patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The patient's perioperative status was measured with imaging and animation using the Yanagihara grade, altitude, and angle differences of the oral commissure and eye closure. RESULTS: Patients in group 1 could recognize their first postoperative spontaneous movement earlier than those in group 2 (268.3 +/- 25.1 days vs. 327.5 +/- 51.3 days, respectively, p = 0.015). The Yanagihara grade significantly improved for patients in both groups postoperatively (group 1: 12.8 +/- 5.5 to 25.3 +/- 6.1, p < 0.01; group 2: 12.4 +/- 5.6 to 24.3 +/- 5.0, p = 0.012). Height and angle difference of the oral commissure showed a significant improvement during resting and smiling in both groups. Eye closure also showed significant improvement in both groups (group 1: 4.1 +/- 0.6 to 2.6 +/- 0.5, p < 0.01; group 2: 4.0 +/- 0.5 to 2.8 +/- 0.7, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the postoperative improvement rate between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage CFNG shows results equivalent to those of two-stage CFNG. Single-stage CFNG is associated with a shorter treatment period and fewer operations.