Facial nerve paralysis - Gore-Tex Facelift (static suspension)

Considerations

• Gore-Tex (ePTFE) is manufactured in 1-2 mm sheets that can be cut to size

• Circumvents the need to harvest fascial material, eliminating donor site morbidity

• The inferior ends are secured to the subcutaneous tissues with non-absorbable suture (Maxon)

• The superior end is secured to the malar bone by rigid fixation with microplates and screws

• May be used in combination with temporalis muscle transfer to lengthen the muscle slips

• May be placed immediately following extirpative surgery

  • However, be wary of late complications in irradiated patients

    • 2007: Immediate Gore-Tex sling suspension for management of facial paralysis in head and neck extirpative surgery

Procedure

Post-op

Links

• • eMedicine article Static Suspension for Facial Paralysis