{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T18:03:58Z","timestamp":1786125838913,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,23]],"date-time":"2021-08-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1629676800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Operative Surg.","ONSURG"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>BACKGROUND<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In the absence of a viable proximal nerve stump, damaged after surgical procedures around the skull base, numerous techniques for facial reanimation have been developed over time, aiming to restore baseline symmetry and active mimicry.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>OBJECTIVE<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To report experience using the masseteric nerve as a direct transfer to the facial nerve rerouted after intratemporal translocation. This paper illustrates the main steps of the technique and the quality of results.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>METHODS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eleven patients were treated with a masseteric direct transfer to the facial nerve. Its extratemporal rerouting toward the zygoma allowed tension-free coaptation between donor and recipient nerves.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Of the 11 patients, 8 had a good to excellent recovery, showing different patterns of time and scores, according to age, surgical timing, and masseteric nerve function quality. The return of activity in the frontalis muscle, never obtained after reinnervation via the hypoglossal nerve, is of particular interest. The quality of the smile can be improved with re-education and practice but remains under volitional control. A true emotional response is still lacking.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>CONCLUSION<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The masseteric nerve is an excellent alternative to the hypoglossal nerve and can reinnervate the whole territory of the facial nerve rerouted after intratemporal translocation. The overall results are remarkable, but the low quality of the trigeminal nerve, eventually affected by the first surgery, may be an important limitation. Even if the patients appear more at ease in re-education than with other techniques, a fully natural facial expression remains impossible to obtain.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/ons\/opab286","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,23]],"date-time":"2021-08-23T09:10:39Z","timestamp":1629709839000},"page":"360-370","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The Masseteric-Facial Anastomosis With Intratemporal Translocation of the Facial Nerve: Step-by-Step Technique and Results"],"prefix":"10.1227","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Stefano","family":"Ferraresi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisabetta","family":"Basso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Maistrello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piero","family":"Di Pasquale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuroanesthesiology Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,11]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"bib1-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1097\/MOO.0000000000000543","article-title":"Facial reanimation: an update on nerve transfers in facial paralysis","volume":"27","author":"Jandali","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg"},{"issue":"4","key":"bib2-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"786","DOI":"10.3171\/2008.9.JNS08769","article-title":"Outcomes and complications of direct end-to-side facial-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis according to the modified May technique","volume":"110","author":"Venail","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Neurosurg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib3-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.2006.104.3.457","article-title":"End-to-side intrapetrous hypoglossal-facial anastomosis for reanimation of the face. Technical note","volume":"104","author":"Ferraresi","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Neurosurg"},{"issue":"2","key":"bib4-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.1997.86.2.0203","article-title":"Hypoglossal-facial nerve side-to-end anastomosis for preservation of hypoglossal function: results of delayed treatment with a new technique","volume":"86","author":"Sawamura","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Neurosurg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib5-20250821","first-page":"203","article-title":"Hypoglosso-facial anastomosis: results and technical development towards end-to-side anastomosis with rerouting of the intra-temporal facial nerve (modified May technique)","volume":"118","author":"Darrouzet","year":"1997","journal-title":"Rev Laryngol Otol Rhynol (Bord)"},{"issue":"7","key":"bib6-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"984","DOI":"10.1097\/00005537-199707000-00028","article-title":"A new technique for hypoglossal-facial nerve repair","volume":"107","author":"Atlas","year":"1997","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"bib7-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e262","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2019.12.149","article-title":"Side to end hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy for treatment of complete and irreversible facial paralysis after vestibular schwannoma removal by means of a retrosigmoid approach: a clinical and anatomic study","volume":"136","author":"Gonzalez-Darder","year":"2020","journal-title":"World Neurosurg"},{"issue":"1","key":"bib8-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022215109991344","article-title":"Facial reanimation with end-to-end hypoglossofacial anastomosis: 20 years\u2019 experience","volume":"124","author":"Catli","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Laryngol Otol"},{"issue":"5","key":"bib9-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"370","DOI":"10.1001\/jamafacial.2016.0514","article-title":"Transposition of the intratemporal facial to hypoglossal nerve for reanimation of the paralyzed face. The VII to XII transposition technique","volume":"18","author":"Kochler","year":"2016","journal-title":"JAMA Facial Plast Surg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib10-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509Y5","DOI":"10.1097\/MAO.0b013e3182936bcf","article-title":"Side-to-end hypoglossal to facial anastomosis with transposition of the intratemporal","volume":"35","author":"Slattery","year":"2014","journal-title":"Otol Neurotol"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib11-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"818","DOI":"10.1177\/019459989110400609","article-title":"Hypoglossal-facial nerve interpositional-jump graft for facial reanimation without tongue atrophy","volume":"104","author":"May","year":"1991","journal-title":"Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib12-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"653","DOI":"10.1007\/s00701-006-0736-2","article-title":"Side-to-end hypoglossal-facial anastomosis via transposition of the intratemporal facial nerve","volume":"148","author":"Rebol","year":"2006","journal-title":"Acta Neurochir (Wien)"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib13-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjoms.2013.12.013","article-title":"The masseteric nerve: a versatile power source in facial animation techniques","volume":"52","author":"Bianchi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib14-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1097\/00006534-197803000-00004","article-title":"Anastomosis of masseteric nerve to lower division of facial nerve for correction of lower facial paralysis","volume":"61","author":"Spira","year":"1978","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"1","key":"bib15-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2004-818046","article-title":"Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis: case report","volume":"20","author":"Bermudez","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Reconstr Microsurg"},{"issue":"1","key":"bib16-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1097\/01.sap.0000252042.58200.c3","article-title":"Nerve sources for facial reanimation with muscle transplant in patients with unilateral facial palsy: clinical analysis of 3 techniques","volume":"59","author":"Faria","year":"2007","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib17-20250821","first-page":"363","article-title":"The motor nerve to the masseter muscle: an anatomic and histomorphometric study to facilitate its use in facial reanimation","volume":"65","author":"Borschel","year":"2012","journal-title":"JPRASurg"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib18-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1098-2353(1998)11:6<396::AID-CA5>3.0.CO;2-8","article-title":"Masseteric nerve: a possible donor for facial nerve anastomosis","volume":"11","author":"Brenner","year":"1998","journal-title":"Clin Anat"},{"issue":"4","key":"bib19-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01627866","article-title":"An anatomical study of the motor distribution of the mandibular nerve for a masseteric-facial anastomosis to restore facial function","volume":"19","author":"Fournier","year":"1997","journal-title":"Surg Radiol Anat"},{"issue":"2","key":"bib20-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1097\/00001665-200503000-00003","article-title":"Course of the masseteric nerve in masseter muscle","volume":"16","author":"Hwang","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Craniofac Surg"},{"issue":"9","key":"bib21-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1305","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcms.2016.06.031","article-title":"Spontaneity of smile after facial paralysis rehabilitation when using a non-facial donor nerve","volume":"44","author":"Hontanilla","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery"},{"issue":"2","key":"bib22-20250821","first-page":"179","article-title":"Cross-face nerve grafting versus masseteric-to-facial nerve transposition for reanimation of incomplete facial paralysis: a comparative study using the FACIAL CLIMA evaluating system","volume":"142","author":"Hontanilla","year":"2018","journal-title":"PRSJournal"},{"issue":"5","key":"bib23-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1909","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0b013e31820e9138","article-title":"Facial reanimation using the masseter-to-facial nerve transfer","volume":"127","author":"Klebuc","year":"2011","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"12","key":"bib24-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1580","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2008.05.046","article-title":"Masseteric-facial nerve coaptation\u2014an alternative technique for facial nerve reinnervation","volume":"62","author":"Coombs","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib25-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1472","DOI":"10.1097\/01.PRS.0000160266.81504.71","article-title":"Cortical adaptation to resoration of smiling after free muscle transfer innervated by the nerve to the masseter","volume":"115","author":"Lifchez","year":"2005","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib26-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2018.11.011","article-title":"Preoperative masseter muscle EMG activation during smile predicts synchronicity of smile development in facial palsy patients undergoing reanimation with the masseter nerve: a prospective cohort study","volume":"72","author":"Lenz","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"5","key":"bib27-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"945","DOI":"10.1007\/s00701-016-2767-7","article-title":"Treatment of complete facial palsy in adults: comparative study between direct hemihypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy, hemihipoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy with grafts, and masseter to facial nerve transfer","volume":"158","author":"Socolovsky","year":"2016","journal-title":"Acta Neurochir"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib28-20250821","first-page":"26026","article-title":"Dual nerve transfer for facial reanimation","volume":"21","author":"Pepper","year":"2019","journal-title":"MDJAMA Facial Plast Surg"},{"issue":"1","key":"bib29-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.3171\/2015.12.JNS14601","article-title":"Masseteric\u2013facial nerve neurorrhaphy: results of a case series","volume":"126","author":"Biglioli","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Neurosurg"},{"issue":"5","key":"bib31-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e562","DOI":"10.1097\/MAO.0000000000002195","article-title":"Facial nerve translocation for low tension neurorrhaphy to masseteric nerve","volume":"40","author":"Hetzler","year":"2019","journal-title":"Otol Neurotol"},{"issue":"2","key":"bib32-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1177\/019459988509300202","article-title":"Facial nerve grading system","volume":"93","author":"House","year":"1985","journal-title":"Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib33-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"764","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2015.02.031","article-title":"Masseteric nerve transfer for short-term facial paralysis following skull base surgery","volume":"68","author":"Yoshioka","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"3","key":"bib34-20250821","first-page":"250e256","article-title":"Cross-facial nerve graft: past and present","volume":"61","author":"Lee","year":"2008","journal-title":"JPRA Surg"},{"key":"bib35-20250821","first-page":"E1","article-title":"Masseteric nerve transfer for facial nerve paralysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Murphey","year":"2017","journal-title":"JAMA Facial Plast Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"bib36-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1353","DOI":"10.1007\/s00266-012-9951-9","article-title":"Masseter-to-facial nerve transfer: is it possible to rehabilitate the function of both the paralyzed eyelid and the oral commissure?","volume":"36","author":"Wang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Aesth Plast Surg"},{"issue":"Suppl 1","key":"bib37-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S63","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0000000000000246","article-title":"Masseter-to-facial nerve transfer a highly effective technique for facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma resection","volume":"73","author":"Wang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"4","key":"bib38-20250821","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e692","DOI":"10.1097\/GOX.0000000000000669","article-title":"Masseter atrophication after masseteric nerve transfer. Is it negligible?","volume":"4","author":"Yoshioka","year":"2016","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open"}],"container-title":["Operative Neurosurgery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ons\/article-pdf\/21\/5\/360\/40514957\/opab286.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.1093\/ons\/opab286","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T17:02:40Z","timestamp":1786122160000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.1093\/ons\/opab286"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,23]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ons\/opab286","relation":{},"ISSN":["2332-4252","2332-4260"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2332-4252","type":"print"},{"value":"2332-4260","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,23]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2021-03-05","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2021-06-28","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}