Prevention of Facial Nerve Injury in Fronto-temporal Craniotomy

We describe a modified surgical technique of fronto-temporal craniotomy with interfascial dissection of temporal fascia. The purpose of this technique is to preserve the fronto-temporal branch of the facial nerve. Forty-four patients with cerebral aneurysm were operated on by this technique, and 5 (11%) of them complained of postoperative transient malfunction of the nerve. The mean duration of the malfunction was 5.4 weeks, and the decreased blood supply to the facial nerve with mechanical compression during craniotomy may contribute to the occurrence of the malfunction.