Effect of surgically guided axonal regrowth into a 3-way-conduit (isogeneic trifurcated aorta) on functional recovery after facial-nerve reconstruction: Experimental study in rats

摘要

Background: The "post-paralytic syndrome" after facial nerve reconstruction has been attributed to (i) malfunctioning axonal guidance at the fascicular (branches) level, (ii) collateral branching of the transected axons at the lesion site, and (iii) intensive intramuscular terminal sprouting of regenerating axons which causes poly-innervation of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJ).