Facial nerve anastomosis in the cerebellopontine angle: a review of 24 cases.

Facial nerve repair during translabyrinthine tumor surgery was performed in twenty-four patients. Nineteen patients (79 percent) had return of facial function. Different techniques of facial nerve anastomosis were evaluated. Suture anastomosis was more reliable than other anastomotic methods, especially if cable nerve grafts were used. Facial function began to return within twelve months in all patients whose function returned.