Facial Nerve Preservation During Giant Mandibular Tumor Surgery.

Marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve is easy to be ignored and injured in patients undergoing giant mandibular tumor resections. In this article, a 30-year-old patient with a giant tumor in the left mandible, an operation of segmental mandibulectomy and reconstruction was given, and the surgery was assisted by intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. During surgery, the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve was detected and well preserved. The patient showed no facial function injury postoperation. In patients of giant mandibular tumor resection, the anatomic location of the facial nerve may have great changes. Preservation of marginal mandibular branch should be taken seriously. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring is an effective method for preventing nerve weakness during such mandibular surgeries. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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