The clinical and gross evaluation of wrapping the facial nerve by a lyophylized duramater (LD) or an autogenous omental graft (AOG) for nerve regeneration, after experimentally induced facial paralysis which was created by neurectomies and repaired by autogenous sural nerve grafts in dogs, were undertaken. Twelve mongrel dogs of different ages, and sex were used in the study. An experimentally induced 1cm gap in the facial nerve was repaired by free cable nerves with an epiperineural suture. The dogs were allotted into 3 equal groups. In the control group, the repaired site was not wrapped by any material. However, the repaired site was wrapped by LD in the second group and AOG in the third group. All dogs were clinically observed for 6 months. Gross evaluation of the repaired site was performed at the end of the observation period. According to clinical and gross examinations, the AOG group was superior to the others, while the LD group was in a better condition than the control group. As a result, traumatic injuries of the facial nerve can be repaired by free cable grafts, and wrapping of the grafting site with a suitable material should be considered.

The clinical and gross evaluation of wrapping the facial nerve by a lyophylized duramater (LD) or an autogenous omental graft (AOG) for nerve regeneration, after experimentally induced facial paralysis which was created by neurectomies and repaired by autogenous sural nerve grafts in dogs, were undertaken. Twelve mongrel dogs of different ages, and sex were used in the study. An experimentally induced 1cm gap in the facial nerve was repaired by free cable nerves with an epiperineural suture. The dogs were allotted into 3 equal groups. In the control group, the repaired site was not wrapped by any material. However, the repaired site was wrapped by LD in the second group and AOG in the third group. All dogs were clinically observed for 6 months. Gross evaluation of the repaired site was performed at the end of the observation period. According to clinical and gross examinations, the AOG group was superior to the others, while the LD group was in a better condition than the control group. As a result, traumatic injuries of the facial nerve can be repaired by free cable grafts, and wrapping of the grafting site with a suitable material should be considered.