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Background: The innervated vastus lateralis flap (IVLF) is a barely used possibility for facial palsy reconstruction because of its thickness compared to the gracilis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis minor flaps. The aim of this study is to perform a precise description of the intramuscular distribution of the nerve motor branches and its relationship with the vascular pedicle in order to harvest a segmental muscle flap with the best contractile strength to restore facial reanimation., Methods: The study was performed on 16 adult cadaver thighs identifying the vastus lateralis muscle and the distribution and relationships of its neurovascular pedicle and branches. We evaluated where the nerve pierced the muscle and the course of the nerve within it. Transverse segments of the nerve were obtained from the proximal and distal ends of the nerve and stained using anti-ChAT (Choline acetyltransferase) antibodies which are specific of motor neurons., Results: A nerve for the vastus lateralis from the posterior division of the femoral nerve divided into 2 branches in 56% of cases; the principal branch coursed along the vascular pedicle and pierced the muscle more proximally than the respective vessels, and a minor branch that pierced the muscle 25-60 mm proximally. There were 3 main intramuscular branches. The nerve length (mean 132.65 ± 22.89 mm) allowed to reach the contralateral side of the face in almost all cases (95%). The mean ChAT positive fibers was 351.0 ± 92.4/mm 2 at the proximal end, and 270.3 ± 87.9/mm 2 at the distal end (p = 0.49). The number of ChAT negative fibers was higher than ChAT positive in both proximal and distal ends of the nerve., Conclusion: We propose the IVLF as a one-step surgical flap for facial paralysis reanimation due to the constant neurovascular pattern and lengthy pedicle. The amount of motor fibers in several segments of the nerve is appropriate to produce a powerful contraction for dynamic reconstruction., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Facial paralysis reconstruction can be difficult in extensive defects after complex facial or cranial base tumor resection and radiotherapy or when primary smile reanimation attempt has failed. The surgical challenge is more complicated when defects are associated with recipient vessels or nerves depletion. This scenario has not been well described in the literature, and the present article will address the alternatives that plastic surgeons may use in these circumstances., Methods: Seventy-five patients operated in the Hospital Gregorio Marañon between 2008 and 2020, for dynamic reconstruction of facial paralysis, were retrospectively evaluated, collecting data about previous facial nerve surgeries, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, recipient nerve for motor restoration and vessels used for free flaps, type of neurovascular free flap (NVFF), and functional score before and after the facial reanimation surgery. Patients presenting recipient vessel and/or nerve depletion after several facial surgeries requiring a variation from the common NVFF surgical protocol were included in this study., Results: Six cases (8%) with facial paralysis and absent recipient homolateral vessels or nerves after severe cranial base surgery, parotid malignancies, or schwannoma surgery were included. Two patients had an immediate functional reconstruction during the oncologic resection surgery, and 4 patients had a delayed reconstruction. Three patients had previous reconstruction with free flaps, and the vascular pedicles of previous flaps were used for the new NVFF. In the other 3 cases, interposition vein grafts to the contralateral recipient vessels were required to perform NVFF. Masseteric nerve in 4 cases, hypoglossal nerve and posterior branch of the deep temporal nerve in 1 case each, were used as recipient nerves. House-Brackmann score improved in all patients after surgery., Conclusions: Neurovascular free flap can be successfully performed to restore facial motion after depletion of homolateral recipient vessels or nerves after previous facial or cranial base surgeries. In these cases, interposition vascular grafts or the pedicle of previous flaps are essential to provide vascularization as well as an optimal orientation of flaps, to reach recipient nerves in a 1-step procedure., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)