Location of the extracranial extent of leprous facial nerve pathology may allow leprous facial palsy to be reanimated by free muscle transfer

Abstract

Leprosy is a mycobacterial nerve and skin infection, which can be eradicated by antibiotics. Some patients affected by leprosy, once cured, have residual nerve impairment with paralysis and sensory neuropathy. A series of patients with facial nerve paralysis, investigated using clinical, histological and electrophysiological techniques, demonstrated that the nerve pathology was distal to the section of main trunk prior to its bifurcation. Facial reanimation was achieved with a free gracilis-muscle transfer, coapting its motor nerve to the ipsilateral facial nerve trunk proximal to the site of the leprosy pathology, with a moderate clinical result.