The histologic and histomorphometric evaluation of wrapping the facial nerve by a lyophylized duramater (LD) or autogenous omental graft (AOG), on nerve regeneration, after experimentally induced facial paralysis, which was created by neurectomy and repaired by autogeneous sural nerve grafts in dogs, was undertaken. The experimental design was reported. At the end of the observation period, specimens harvested from the main trunk of the facial nerve arising from the stylomastoid foramen, the repaired site and three branches of this nerve were examined histologically and histomorphometrically with respect to myelin area, axon number and nerve fiber diameter. Reduced fibrosis and improved nerve regeneration were found to be superior in the AOG wrapped group than the others. According to the histomorphometric evaluation of grafted site, the wrapped groups had better values than those of the control group. Wrapping was found to be useful for nerve regeneration in the grafting site and the omentum could be recommended for this purpose. Some reference values were obtained from histomorphometric evaluations that will be helpful for further studies, and traumatic injuries of facial nerves can be repaired by free cable grafts and regeneration seemed better when wrapped with AOG.

The histologic and histomorphometric evaluation of wrapping the facial nerve by a lyophylized duramater (LD) or autogenous omental graft (AOG), on nerve regeneration, after experimentally induced facial paralysis, which was created by neurectomy and repaired by autogeneous sural nerve grafts in dogs, was undertaken. The experimental design was reported. At the end of the observation period, specimens harvested from the main trunk of the facial nerve arising from the stylomastoid foramen, the repaired site and three branches of this nerve were examined histologically and histomorphometrically with respect to myelin area, axon number and nerve fiber diameter. Reduced fibrosis and improved nerve regeneration were found to be superior in the AOG wrapped group than the others. According to the histomorphometric evaluation of grafted site, the wrapped groups had better values than those of the control group. Wrapping was found to be useful for nerve regeneration in the grafting site and the omentum could be recommended for this purpose. Some reference values were obtained from histomorphometric evaluations that will be helpful for further studies, and traumatic injuries of facial nerves can be repaired by free cable grafts and regeneration seemed better when wrapped with AOG.