Evaluation of VIIth–XIIth cranial nerve anastomosis results by age

Objective To evaluate VIIth–XIIth cranial nerve (hypoglossal–facial nerve) anastomosis results by age. Method A total of 34 patients who attended a follow-up visit in 2016, aged 20–63 years, were enrolled. The House–Brackmann facial nerve function grading system and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation scale were applied. Results Regarding post-anastomosis facial nerve function, in the group aged 40 years or less, 14 patients (78 per cent) had House–Brackmann grade III and 4 patients (22 per cent) had House–Brackmann grade IV facial nerve function post-anastomosis. In the group aged over 40 years, nine patients (56 per cent) had House–Brackmann grade III and seven patients (44 per cent) had House–Brackmann grade IV facial nerve function post-anastomosis. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in mean facial movement domain scores ( p = 0.02). Analysis between age and facial movement score in all 34 patients demonstrated a moderate negative correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient: −0.38) and statistical significance ( p = 0.02). Conclusion Facial reanimation yielded better results in younger than in older patients.