Restoration of Trigeminal Cutaneous Sensation with Cross-Face Sural Nerve Grafts: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract Complete anesthesia leaves patients susceptible to occult injury, and facial sensation is an important component of interaction and activities of daily living. Although treating facial palsy is considered debilitating for patients, trigeminal nerve palsy and sensory deficits of the face are overlooked components of disability. The authors reported the first case in Vietnam: 38 year-old man who lost the sensation on his right face follow by V cranial nerve tumor resection one year before. The sensation of the trigeminal cutaneous nerve was restored with cross-face sural nerve graft from contralateral side in 2018. The patient demonstrated improved sensation in the reconstructed dermatomes without donor-site aNBormalities at the time of 18 months post operation. Keywords: Facial palsy, facial sensation, trigeminal nerve tumor, cross-face nerve graft.