Nerve alterations in rhytidoplasty: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Rhytidoplasty has become one of the most common aesthetic surgeries performed by plastic surgeons worldwide. Along with the increase in the number of surgeries performed, the number of procedure-related complications has also increased. In particular, nerve injuries are the major concern. By conducting a systematic review, the present study aimed to identify the main nerve structures injured during rhytidoplasty, by either the conventional or endoscopic technique.

Methods:

A systematic literature review was performed in the main databases currently used. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in their entirety, and their references were checked. Finally, 20 studies were included.

Results:

In these 20 articles, 3,347 patients were evaluated and 142 nerve injuries found, of which 79 were of the facial nerve, 55 were of the trigeminal nerve, and eight were of the great auricular nerve. Of these, only two were definitive. The lesions were more prevalent (81%) with the video-assisted techniques than with the conventional techniques (19%).

Conclusion:

We found that the injuries of the temporal and buccal branches were more frequent during facelifts; and those of the great auricular nerve, during cervical rhytidoplasty. Although nerve injuries are infrequent in the literature, well-designed studies that aim to better understand these complications are lacking.

Keywords:
Rhytidoplasty; Facial nerve; Trigeminal nerve; Cervical plexus