Immediate Reconstruction of the Infraorbital Nerve After Maxillectomy: Is it Feasible?

Purpose: Ablative procedures of the midface may require sacrifice of the infraorbital nerve (ION) resulting in permanent paresthesia of its dermatome. Because the ION is not commonly reconstructed, the goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of nerve allograft reconstruction. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients underwent immediate ION allograft reconstruction, during August 2018 to August 2019 at a single academic medical center by a single surgeon (M.M.). Demographic and clinical variables were collected. The outcome of interest was clinical neurosensory testing using the Medical Research Council Scale and subjective recovery, which was recorded using a visual analog scale at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: This cohort series consisted of 3 consecutive patients who underwent immediate ION allograft reconstruction. At 6 months, all patients achieved functional sensory recovery (S3, S3+, and S4) and acceptable subjective improvement. Conclusions: Immediate nerve allograft reconstruction of the ION is a viable option to achieve functional sensory recovery.