This technique is performed in order to provide access for better accomplishment of the surgical procedure. Transposition may be:
- Permanent or temporary;
- Total or partial;
- Anterior or posterior.
Prognostic factors for postoperative function of the nerve are:
- Surgical technique;
- The degree of surgical trauma;
- The patient’s age;
- Vascularization of the nerve (AICA, Stylomastoid art., Superficial petrosal art.)
Posterior transposition is used in transcochlear approach. This posterior rerouting is usually used for tumor removal and stylomastoid artery is partially compromised. The long-term facial nerve function is satisfactory but the interruption of the blood supply to geniculate ganglion and to the intrameatal segment gives a nerve function lower than that achieved after anterior transposition.
- Permanent or temporary;
- Total or partial;
- Anterior or posterior.
Prognostic factors for postoperative function of the nerve are:
- Surgical technique;
- The degree of surgical trauma;
- The patient’s age;
- Vascularization of the nerve (AICA, Stylomastoid art., Superficial petrosal art.)
Posterior transposition is used in transcochlear approach. This posterior rerouting is usually used for tumor removal and stylomastoid artery is partially compromised. The long-term facial nerve function is satisfactory but the interruption of the blood supply to geniculate ganglion and to the intrameatal segment gives a nerve function lower than that achieved after anterior transposition.
References
- Sanna M, Saleh E, Russo A, Taibah A. Atlas of Temporal Bone and Lateral Skull Base Surgery. Ed. Thieme.1995
