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In total, 38 patients who underwent the triple innervation technique in an effort to restore a permanent recent unilateral facial palsy were retrospectively assessed for long-term outcomes in order to ascertain the efficacy of the technique and the stability of the results. The surgical approach used involves the restoration of voluntary movement using both masseteric and hypoglossal nerves, the contralateral facial nerve for spontaneous movement, and some static techniques (midface soft-tissue suspension with fascia lata graft, lateral tarsorrhaphy, and lipofilling of the upper eyelid) in order to enhance the symmetry at rest. During April 2024, EFACE grading was used to assess morphological and functional outcomes using pre- and 24-month postoperative pictures and videos. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired groups showed a statistically significant improvement in facial symmetry and in the range of voluntary movements within the treated population. Moreover, the comparison of median values of the spontaneous parameters suggested good effectiveness of this kind of surgery. Blinking was restored in 36 patients. This result also correlated with a decreased need for artificial tears postoperatively. Excellent outcomes were also achieved in restoring the empathic smile, with 37 patients showing improvement. Triple innervation is one of the techniques currently used to obtain static and dynamic recovery from permanent recent facial paralysis: the results are reproducible and increase morphologically and functionally over time. Moreover, by assessing results at 24 months after surgery, the long-term evaluation suggests excellent stability of the morphological outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None., (Copyright © 2025 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Facial paralysis poses significant challenges including functional impairments and aesthetic anomalies. The management of facial palsy often involves many surgeries aimed at reanimating the facial muscles and restoring protective mechanisms such as the blink reflex. In recent years, the triple innervation technique has emerged as a promising approach for facial reanimation, combining multiple neural inputs to achieve functional restoration. This retrospective study compares the outcomes of two different neurorrhaphy techniques, namely end-to-end and end-to-side, in the context of the upper cross-face nerve graft during the second surgical step of the triple innervation technique for facial reanimation surgery. Thirty patients with unilateral complete facial paralysis were included in the study, and outcomes were evaluated based on pre- and post-operative assessments including electromyography, eFACE scores, and blink reflex evaluations. Results indicate significant improvement in static facial symmetry, voluntary movements, and blink reflex in both groups postoperatively. However, a comparison between the two groups revealed better outcomes in terms of gentle eye closure in the end-to-side neurorrhaphy group, while no differences in term of post-operative synkinesis were described. This suggests that preserving the reinnervating nerve fibers of the masseteric nerve through end-to-side neurorrhaphy may optimize functional outcomes of the reanimated orbicularis oculi muscle., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The researcher (Mohamed O. Atta) is funded by a full scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education of Egypt. The current research is not funded by the mentioned ministry or any other foundation or organization. None of the authors has a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this article., (Copyright © 2025 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluates the quality and readability of informed consent documents generated by AI platforms ChatGPT-4 and Bard Gemini Advanced compared to those written by a first-year oral surgery resident for common oral surgery procedures. The evaluation, conducted by 18 experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons, assessed consents for accuracy, completeness, readability, and overall quality. ChatGPT-4 consistently outperformed both Bard and human-written consents. ChatGPT-4 consents had a median accuracy score of 4 [IQR 4-4], compared to Bard's 3 [IQR 3-4] and human's 4 [IQR 3-4]. Completeness scores were higher for ChatGPT-4 (4 [IQR 4-5]) than Bard (3 [IQR 3-4]) and human (4 [IQR 3-4]). Readability was also superior for ChatGPT-4, with a median score of 4 [IQR 4-5] compared to Bard and human consents, both at 4 [IQR 4-4] and 4 [IQR 3-4], respectively. The Gunning Fog Index for ChatGPT-4 was 17.2 [IQR 16.5-18.2], better than Bard's 23.1 [IQR 20.5-24.7] and the human consents' 20 [IQR 19.2-20.9]. Overall, ChatGPT-4's consents received the highest quality ratings, underscoring AI's potential in enhancing patient communication and the informed consent process. The study suggests AI can reduce misinformation risks and improve patient understanding, but continuous evaluation, oversight, and patient feedback integration are crucial to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of AI-generated content in clinical practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Electromyographic evaluation is a reliable tool for confirming facial palsy and assessing its severity. It allows differentiating facial paresis and paralysis, and further distinguishes acute palsies, still showing muscle fibrillations, from chronic cases. This article aims to show that EMG fibrillations might represent a better criterion to differentiate acute and chronic palsies than the standard 18-24 months' cut-off usually employed for classification and treatment purposes. We performed a cohort study using the eFACE tool for comparing triple innervation facial reanimation results in patients with EMG fibrillation treated <12 months, 12-18 months, and >18 months from paralysis onset. Patients showed a statistically significant post-operative improvement in all eFACE items, both in the whole sample and in the three groups. Only the deviation from the optimal score for the gentle eye closure item in group 2 didn't reach statistical significance (p = 0.173). The post-operative results were comparable in the three groups, as the Kruskal-Wallis test showed a difference only for the platysmal synkinesis item scores, which were significantly lower in group 3 (p = 0.025)., (Copyright © 2024 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Facial palsy can severely compromise quality of life, significantly altering the harmony and symmetry of the face, which can be restored by surgical rehabilitation. The aim of the study was the quantification of facial symmetry following facial reanimation. Fifteen consecutive adult patients were surgically treated through triple innervation for reanimation of flaccid unilateral facial paralysis (contralateral facial nerve, masseteric nerve, and hypoglossal nerve) and fascia lata graft for definition of the nasolabial sulcus. In the preoperative stage and at least 11 months after the surgical treatment, three-dimensional facial images were recorded through stereophotogrammetry in a neutral (rest) position, and with Mona Lisa and full-denture (maximum) smiles. Labial commissure inclination relative to the interpupillary axis, and a surface assessment of local facial asymmetry at rest and while smiling were obtained for the upper, middle, and lower facial thirds. The angle between the interpupillary axis and the labial commissure significantly improved in post-surgical acquisitions, regaining symmetry at rest (t-test; p < 0.001). Facial symmetry increased significantly when passing from pre-to postsurgical facial scans, from the lower to the upper facial third, and from the full smile to the rest position (ANOVA; p < 0.001). After treatment, the full smile recovered more symmetry than the other two expressions. In summary, surgical treatment significantly reduced facial asymmetry, but this reduction differed significantly among the various animations and facial thirds. The results of this study confirmed clinical findings of significant static and dynamic improvements in facial symmetry after triple innervation reanimation surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It is the aim of the study to provide a detailed intraoperative assessment of the masseteric nerve and the facial branch of the smiling muscles complex through the same superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) incision. This observational retrospective study aimed to define the straightest and safest surgical route to identify the facial nerve for the smiling muscles complex and the masseteric nerve, using distance from the tragus and zygomatic arch as anatomical landmarks. 30 patients were included in the study. The mean distance from the tragus to the masseteric nerve was 40.03 mm, the mean distance from the zygomatic arch was 12.24 mm, and the mean depth from the SMAS was 10.84 mm. Data were consistent, with little variation. The distance from the zygoma was found to be higher in male patients. There was a positive correlation between the depth to the nerve and the distance from the zygoma, but no correlation between body mass index and the other parameters studied. Within the limitations of the study it seems that the proposed standardized direct approach to the masseteric nerve is a reproducible technique that may be used to increase the safety of the procedure, reduce the operating time, and decrease the amount of dissection and related postoperative scarring, thereby fostering positive results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Facial paralysis decreases eye protection mechanisms leading to ocular problems up to corneal ulceration, and blindness. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of periocular procedures for recent facial paralysis. Medical records of patients with unilateral recent complete facial palsy who did periocular procedures at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of San Paolo Hospital (Milan, Italy) between April 2018 and November 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. 26 patients were included. All patients were evaluated 4 months after surgery. The first group included 9 patients who underwent upper eye lid lipofilling and midface suspension with fascia lata graft; they had no ocular dryness symptoms and no need for eye protection measures in 33.3% of cases, significant reduction of ocular symptoms and need for eye protection measures in 66.6% of patient, 0-2 mm lagophthalmos in 66.6% and 3-4 mm lagophthalmos in 33.3%. The second group of 17 patients who underwent upper eyelid lipofilling, midface suspension with fascia lata graft and lateral tarsorrhaphy, had no ocular dryness symptoms and no need for eye protection measures in 17.6% of patient, significant reduction of ocular symptoms and need for eye protection measures in 76.4% of patient, 0-2 mm lagophthalmos in 70.5%, 3-4 mm lagophthalmos in 23.5% and one patient 5,8%had 8 mm lagophthalmos and persistent symptoms. No ocular complication, cosmetic complain or donner site morbidity were reported. Upper eyelid lipofilling, midface suspension with fascia lata graft and lateral tarsorrhaphy decrease ocular dryness symptoms and need for eye protection measures and improve lagophthalmos: the association of the reinnervation with these complementary techniques is therefore highly recommended in order to immediately protect the eye., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A retrospective comparison between two groups of patients who underwent one-step or two-step triple innervation was performed to reveal the role of scar tissue in axonal regeneration. The surgical technique used was the same in all cases, but the first group underwent a one-time triple innervation procedure, while patients in the second group underwent delayed performance of neurorrhaphies between the distal ends of the cross-face grafts and the terminal branches of the injured facial nerve. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired groups showed a statistically significant improvement in both facial symmetry and voluntary movements in both groups of patients. Separately, the Mann-Whitney test confirmed no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the restoration of facial symmetry and voluntary movements, and the development of postoperative synkinesis. A comparison of median values for each spontaneous parameter between the groups revealed greater effectiveness of the two-step surgery, with both blinking and laughing demonstrating better results. The greater effectiveness of the double-step technique in restoring spontaneous movements strongly supports the use of a two-stage triple innervation technique in patients with facial palsy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2021 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recent facial paralyses, in which fibrillations of the mimetic muscles are still detectable by electromyography (EMG), allow facial reanimation based on giving new neural stimuli to musculature. However, if more time has elapsed, mimetic muscles can undergo irreversible atrophy, and providing a new neural stimulus is simply not effective. In these cases function is provided by transferring free flaps into the face or transposing masticatory muscles to reinstitute major movements, such as eyelid closure and smiling. In a small number of cases, patients affected by paralysis are referred late - more than 18 months after onset. In these cases, reinnervating the musculature carries a high risk of failure because some or all of the mimetic muscles may atrophy irreversibly while axonal ingrowth is taking place. A mixed reanimation technique to address this involves a neurorrhaphy between the masseteric nerve and a facial nerve branch for the orbicularis oculi, to ensure a stronger innervation to that muscle, associated with the transposition of the temporalis muscle to the nasiolabial sulcus. This gives good symmetry in the rest of the midface, while smiling movement is achievable, but not guaranteed. This one-time facial reanimation is particularly indicated for those who refuse major free-flap surgery or when that may be risky, as in previously operated and irradiated fields. More extensive procedures based on utilizing a free flap to recover smiling, while adding a cross-face nerve graft to restore blinking, may be proposed for motivated patients. Between 2010 and 2015, five patients affected by complete unilateral facial palsy underwent this technique in the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, San Paolo Hospital (Milan, Italy). Symmetry of the middle-third of the face at rest and recovery of smiling was quite good. Complete voluntary eyelid closure was obtained in all cases. Combining temporalis flap rotation and a masseteric-to-orbicularis-oculi-facial-nerve branch neurorrhaphy seems to be a valid solution for those medium-term referred patients., (Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recent facial palsies are those in which fibrillations of the mimetic musculature remain detectable by electromyography (EMG). Such fibrillations generally cease 18-24 months after palsy onset. During this period, facial re-animation surgery seeks to supply new neural inputs to the facial nerve. Neural usable sources were divided into qualitative (contralateral facial nerve) and quantitative (hypoglossus and masseteric nerve), depending on the type of stimulus provided. To further improve the extent and quality of facial re-animation, we here describe a new surgical technique featuring triple neural inputs: the use of the masseteric nerve and 30% of the hypoglossus nerve fibres as quantitative sources was associated with the contralateral facial nerve (incorporated via two cross-face nerve grafts) as a qualitative source in order to restore facial movements in 24 consecutive patients. The use of two quantitative motor nerve sources together with a qualitative neural source appears to improve re-animation after facial paralysis, despite earlier doubts as to whether patients could use different nerves to produce facial movements. In fact, movement was much improved. Smiling according to emotions and blinking seem to be better assured if cross-face nerve grafting is performed in two steps rather than one., (Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alterations of facial muscles may critically humper patients' quality of life. One of the worst conditions is the reduction or abolition of eye blinking. To prevent these adverse effects, surgical rehabilitation of eyelid function is the current treatment choice. In the present paper, we present a modification of the technique devised by Nassif to recover lids from long-standing paralysis. In our modification, the upper lid is rehabilitated by a platisma graft innervated by the contralateral facial nerve branches using a cross-face sural nerve graft. The lower lid is pulled upward by a fascia lata string suspension. Fourteen patients with unilateral facial paralysis were operated on consecutively. For each patient, two sets of frontal photographs with open and closed eyes were available, before and after the surgical rehabilitation. On average, eyelid lumen with closed eyes decreased by 2.6 mm (SD 2.4) after surgical rehabilitation (37% of the initial value). With open eyes, the decrement was 1.5 mm (SD 1.6, 15%). The modifications were highly significant (p < 0.01), with very large effect sizes. Reanimation of the paralyzed eye by mean of cross-face nerve graft followed by platisma neurotization can restore natural eyelid closure and blink reflex., (Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to assess the mid-term effectiveness and safety of an original technique consisting of reconstructing fractures of the medial wall of the orbit with porous polyethylene implants with an exclusive transnasal approach. Twenty-five patients were treated. Each patient underwent a pre-operative ophthalmologic evaluation and a CT scan. The surgery started with an anteroposterior ethmoidectomy of the fractured side; all the fractured bone fragments were removed and all usual landmarks of healthy bony margins were identified. A Medpor sheet was placed endoscopically to reconstruct the fractured wall. Each patient received an immediate postoperative CT scan, and was evaluated at day 1, 7, 30 and 6 months after surgery clinically and with an endoscopic examination. In all patients, preoperative enophthalmos and/or diplopia were corrected. The CT scans showed excellent reconstruction of the fractured bony walls. The immediate postoperative period was characterized by a very high degree of subjective comfort. No perioperative complications were detected. At the 6 months follow up, all meshes appeared covered by epithelialized mucosa at the endoscopic inspection, and clinical results were stable. Scars or lid complications are always prevented. The technique described has become the standard to treat medial wall fractures in our department., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Synkinetic movements are common among patients with incomplete recovery from facial palsy, with reported rates ranging from 9.1% to almost 100%. The authors propose the separation of the neural stimulus of the orbicularis oculi from that of the zygomatic muscular complex to treat eyelid closure/smiling synkinesis. This technique, associated with an anastomosis between the masseteric nerve and a central branch of the facial nerve, as well as with the use of a cross-facial nerve graft, resolves most of the spasms of the midface musculature, leading to a more relaxed tone when the mimic muscle is at rest and enhancing muscle excursion during voluntary and spontaneous smiling. Between 2011 and 2016, 18 patients affected by segmental paresis of the middle of the face underwent surgical treatment at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the San Paolo Hospital (Milan, Italy). Of these patients, 72.22% of cases with hypertone obtained partial to complete relaxation. Synkinesis was completely resolved in 83.33% of cases, and a significant improvement in facial movement was achieved in all patients. Neurorrhaphy of the masseteric nerve and the central branch of the facial nerve appears to produce favorable results. These initial data should be confirmed by further studies., (Copyright © 2017 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nerve-related complications are being reported with increasing frequency following oral and dental surgery, and typically involve the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). We assess herein the etiology of neuropathic pain related to IAN injuries, and describe the various surgical treatment techniques available. Between 2007 and 2013, 19 patients were referred to the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of San Paolo Hospital (Milan, Italy) with pain in the area supplied by the IAN, which developed following endodontic treatment, oral surgery and maxillofacial surgery. All patients underwent IAN surgery by several different microsurgical procedures. Most of the patients affected by pain before surgery experienced complete or partial amelioration of symptoms. All patients receiving sural nerve grafts were pain-free 12 months after surgery. In five patients the operation was unsuccessful. In 78.94% of cases, a significant increase in nerve function was observed. Pain following IAN surgical damage may be addressed by microsurgery; nerve substitution with a sural nerve interpositional graft appears to represent the most efficacious procedure. Scar releasing, nerve decompression and nerve substitution using vein grafts are less effective. Removal of endodontic material extravasated into the mandibular canal is mandatory and effective in patients experiencing severe pain. Surgery should be performed within 12 months postoperatively, ideally during the first few weeks after symptoms onset., (Copyright © 2015 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Mandibular condylar fractures are very common. The current literature contains many indications and methods of treatment. Extraoral approaches are complicated by the need to avoid injury to the facial nerve. On the other hand intraoral approaches can make fracture reduction and/or fixation difficult. The mini-retromandibular approach provides an excellent view of the surgical field, minimises the risk of injury to the facial nerve, and allows rapid and easy management of condylar fractures. We have collected and reviewed our first 100 condylar fractures treated by means of a mini-retromandibular approach., Patients and Methods: Between June 2006 and June 2012, Eighty-seven patients with extracapsular condylar fractures underwent open reduction and rigid fixation for 100 extracapsular condylar fractures via a mini-retromandibular approach., Results: Dental occlusion and anatomic reduction were restored in all 100 condylar fractures. Postoperative infection developed in three patients. There was one sialocele and one case of plate fracture. Four patients experienced transient palsy of the buccal branch of the facial nerve. No permanent deficit of any facial nerve branch was observed. No patient showed condylar head resorption., Conclusions: Our experience with the treatment of the first 100 condylar fractures using the mini-retromandibular approach has demonstrated that this technique has allowed the Authors to safely manage extracapsular condylar fractures at all levels., (Copyright © 2013 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Epidermal nevi are clinical manifestations of a malformation affecting the embryonic ectoderm. They appear as linear verrucous lesions and are more often located in the skin of the trunk or the extremities. Rarely, verrucous lesions affect the oral mucosa. Epidermal nevi can be a component of epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS), which is characterized by malformations involving several organs, such as the central nervous system. ENS is rarely associated with other solid tumors. We present the case of a patient affected by ENS who developed maxillary and mandibular ameloblastomas. Epidermal nevi were located in the left middle and lower third of the face and in the left cervical region, whereas the ameloblastomas arose within the left maxillary mucosa and within the left mandibular ramus. Features of the syndrome are described and the relevant literature is reviewed., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)