Management and rehabilitation of the facial nerve in parotid surgery.

The facial nerve is the single most important consideration in the surgical management of most parotid disorders. Its surgical anatomy should be well known by the head and neck surgeon. Very few conditions of the parotid gland necessitate the sacrifice of the facial nerve. When this decision is made, the benefits to be derived should be very thoughtfully measured against the tremendous cosmetic and functional sequelae that follow, and the patient should understand preoperatively to the fullest the magnitude of this decision and all its consequences. Most facial nerve deficits resulting from injury or sacrifice of the nerve can be and are best repaired by either direct anastomosis or autografting using a donor sensory nerve. Such restorations of the neuromuscular mechanism yield a physiologic result that is as close to the preinjury state as possible, and this is reflected in cosmetic and functional recoveries that are generally superior to any other of a variety of rehabilitative techniques. In all patients with a paralyzed face, extremely close attention must be given the involved eye to minimize the hazards of corneal injury.