[An unusual complication of cervicofacial lift: paralysis of the external branch of the accessory spinal nerve].

Paralysis of the lateral branch of the accessory nerve is an extremely rare lesion during cervico-facial facelift. Based on 3 detailed and published personal cases observed over a period of 15 years, the authors review the literature, revealing a total of 9 cases over a period of 30 years, but other cases have probably not been published. Their review reveals the following points. This is an exceptional lesion. However, the nerve can be damaged as it emerges from the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle during slightly deep dissection and the electrical scalpel must be used cautiously. Even, partial paralysis of the trapezius muscle induces pain and considerable functional impairment with partial permanent disability. The natural history of this paralysis is very long and may be followed by regression after several years. Although there is an obvious cause-and-effect relationship between the operation and accessory nerve paralysis, it is always difficult to attribute this lesion to a possible surgical error, as the exact mechanism of the nerve lesion remain hypothetical and once again raises the problem of therapeutic risk.