Reinnervation After Resection of the Facial Nerve

Abstract
After radical parotidectomy for carcinoma carried out in a five-month-old child, spontaneous return of the function of the facial musculature developed gradually during the second year after the intervention. Electromyographic studies showed that reinnervation developed mainly from the homolateral (involved) side even though the contralateral (un-involved) side evidently also participated in the reinnervation of the mouth sphincter. Responses could be evoked from the superficial layers of the sub-cutis in the midface. The authors therefore assume that in the case described the unexpected reinnervation was effected by dual innervation of the buccinator. It is likely that in some persons this muscle is also activated by the motor fibres of the trigeminus.