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Background: Despite indications of a close interaction between the trigeminal (CN V) and facial nerve (CN VII) within the buccinator muscle, a combination of anatomical dissection and histological analysis has not been reported., Methods: Five formalin-fixed and fresh-frozen hemifaces were dissected to reveal the buccal fat pad, the buccinator muscle, and anastomotic connections between CN V and CN VII within it. Samples were taken for histological processing and immunostaining., Results: Branches of CN V and CN VII formed pronounced sensorimotor anastomotic connections in and surrounding the buccinator muscle. These findings were histologically evident with close intramuscular coupling of sensory and motor fibers. There was an evident but gradual shift from motor to sensory fibers in the interconnections when analyzing them from the side of CN V toward the side of CN VII and vice versa., Conclusions: These results further elucidate connections between CN V and CN VII and their possible role in proprioception of the facial muscles., (© 2024 The Author(s). Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Outcomes and recovery of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) have been broadly examined in studies. The total recovery time can potentially be reduced by performing simultaneous, bilateral ECTR. In this study we prospectively investigated days to self-reliance. As secondary outcomes, we investigated direct postoperative recovery of hand function and pre and postoperative symptom severity after simultaneous, bilateral ECTR., Methods: In this single-center prospective case series, we included all patients willing to participate after undergoing bilateral ECTR between December 2015 and July 2019. Every patient recorded days to self-reliance (when a patient could perform basic activities of daily living without the need for assistance from another person) and completed a preoperative and postoperative Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) evaluating postoperative hand function and pre and postoperative symptom severity., Results: In total, 81 patients received simultaneous, bilateral ECTR. Median days until self-reliance was 4; mean number of days was 4.9. Concerning BCTQ scores, postoperative functional status increased significantly each day, and mean BCTQ score decreased gradually from intense difficulty to little difficulty in daily tasks over a period of 7 days. Preoperative BCTQ symptom severity showed significant improvement compared to postoperative symptoms, evolving from medium to slight symptoms., Conclusions: Simultaneous, bilateral ECTR offers recovery to self-reliance in 4 to 5 days with a gradual and significant increase of hand function in the following postoperative days., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic II., (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)