Cortical representation sites of mimic movements after facial nerve reconstruction: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• Published in: The Laryngoscope Vol. 121; no. 4; p. 699
• Main Authors: Bitter, Thomas, Sorger, Bettina, Hesselmann, Volker, Krug, Barbara, Lackner, Klaus, Guntinas-Lichius, Orlando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Dominance, Cerebral; Facial Muscles - innervation; Facial Nerve - physiopathology; Facial Nerve - surgery; Facial Paralysis - etiology; Facial Paralysis - physiopathology; Facial Paralysis - surgery; Female; Humans; Hypoglossal Nerve - physiopathology; Hypoglossal Nerve - surgery; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Lip - innervation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Microsurgery - methods; Middle Aged; Nerve Regeneration - physiology; Nerve Transfer - methods; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms - physiopathology; Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms - surgery; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Tongue - innervation
• ISSN: 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.21399

To describe cortical reorganization after classic hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA) (four patients), hypoglossal-facial nerve jump anastomosis (HFJA) (three patients), and facial nerve interpositional graft (FNIG) (three patients). Prospective case series. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during lip and tongue movement using a block or an event-related design. Despite the presence of some intersubject variability, the following general brain activation patterns were revealed: As expected, lip movements after FNIG led to selective brain activation in the original facial motor cortex, and lip movements after HFA were associated with activation in the hypoglossal motor cortex. Following HFJA, lip movements resulted in overlapping activation encompassing both the original facial and the hypoglossal motor cortex, but tongue movements led solely to strong activation within the original hypoglossal motor cortex. In contrast, tongue movements after HFA were associated with strong activation in the original hypoglossal motor cortex and weaker activation in the facial motor cortex. Direct facial nerve repair (FNIG) leads to restoration of the original cortical activation. A cross nerve suture (HFA or HFJA) changes cortical activation and leads to different patterns of cortical activation during lip and tongue movements.