Cross-facial nerve graft: a report of chronically paralyzed facial muscle neurotization by a nerve graft.

A 21-year-old housewife with long-standing hemifacial paralysis on the left side decided to undergo the classic two-stage cross-facial nerve graft with muscle transfer. The first stage of the operation was performed successfully with the use of a sural nerve graft. After the appearance of Tinel's sign 8 months later, gain of function in the muscles of the paralyzed side was observed and negated the need for the second-stage muscle transfer.