Motor and sensory facial nerve grafts. An experimental comparative study.

Two groups of four rabbits each were used. In the first group, the greater auricular nerve was grafted into the ipsilateral facial nerve. In the second group, the facial nerve was grafted into the contralateral facial nerve. Electromyographic studies were performed on both groups 21 to 24 weeks afterward, together with an axonal count of the grafted nerves and histologic studies of the facial muscles. No differences between the groups were found in rest periods, periods of voluntary activity, and magnitude of the action potentials. In the auriculo-facial grafts, the number and density of axons was greater. The conclusion of this study is that the facial nerve can function adequately with a smaller number of axons than it normally has with sensitive nerves of a lesser width proving to be useful grafts.