Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29222560›Full record

SynthesisJAMA facial plastic surgery2018

Masseteric Nerve Transfer for Facial Nerve Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Alexander W Murphey, William B Clinkscales, Samuel L Oyer

Open access · bronzeAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in JAMA facial plastic surgery, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
4.0field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 89 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Article
  6. Optimizing facial reanimation: surgical landmarks for masseteric-to-facial nerve anastomosis.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Dual nerve transfer for postoperative facial paralysis: a 4-year clinical outcome report.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Masseteric Nerve for Reanimation: Does Age, Radiation and Duration of Facial Palsy Affect the Outcome?Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Masseteric-facial anastomosis and hypoglossal-facial anastomosis after lateral skull base and middle ear surgery.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2024
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Anatomic Analysis of Masseteric-to-zygomatic Nerve Transfer in Rat and Pig Models.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023
    Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Supercharging the Smile: A Novel Dual Nerve Transfer for Facial Reanimation.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2022
    Article
  20. The application of venous nerve conduit trap in the immediate repair and reconstruction of facial nerve in parotid gland tumor: an attempt of a new technique.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2021
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Alexander W MurpheyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
William B ClinkscalesDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Samuel L OyerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Medical University of South Carolina · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

importanceA review of the role of masseteric nerve transfer is needed to guide its use in facial reanimation.

objectiveTo systematically review the available literature, and, when applicable, analyze the combined outcomes of masseteric nerve transfer to better define its role in reanimation and to guide further research. DATA SOURCES: Two independent researchers conducted the review using PubMed-NCBI and Scopus literature databases for studies on masseteric nerve transfer for facial nerve paralysis. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that examined masseter nerve transfer with additional cranial nerve transposition/coaptation or muscle flap were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Literature review and data extraction followed established PRISMA guidelines. Two researchers extracted data independently. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main planned outcomes for the study were quantitative results of facial nerve movement after nerve transfer including oral commissure movement and time to nerve recovery.

resultsA total of 13 articles met inclusion criteria with a total of 183 patients undergoing masseteric nerve transfer. From those studies, there were a total of 183 patients who underwent masseteric nerve transfer. There were 85 men and 98 women with a mean (SD) age of 43 (12.2) years and mean (SD) follow up examination after surgery of 22 (7.6) months. Mean (SD) duration of nerve paralysis was 14 (6) months. Most common cause of paralysis was cerebellopontine angle tumors (81%). Six studies coapted the masseteric nerve to the main facial nerve trunk, whereas 7 used distal branches (buccal or zygomatic). Four studies used interposition nerve grafts with great auricular nerve. Two measures, improvement in oral commissure excursion and length from reanimation to facial movement, were measured consistently across the studies. Pooled analysis showed time from surgery to first facial movement, described in 10 studies, to be 4.95 months (95% CI, 3.66 to 6.24). Distal branch coaptation improved time to recovery vs main branch coaptation, 3.76 vs 5.76 months (95% CI, -0.33 to 4.32), but mean difference was not significant. The use of interposition graft significantly delayed time of nerve recovery, 6.24 vs 4.06 months (95% CI, 0.20 to 4.16). When controlled for main trunk coaptation only, interposition nerve graft delayed recovery but difference was no longer statistically significant, 6.24 vs 4.75 months (95% CI, -0.94 to 3.92). Reported complications were minor and rare occurring in only 6.5% (12 of 183) of patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The masseteric nerve was found to be a good option for nerve transfer in this patient population, and showed favorable results in both time to nerve recovery and improvement in oral commissure excursion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Indexed as

Facial ParalysisHumansMandibular NerveMasseter MuscleNerve TransferTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID29222560
PMCPMC5885967
OpenAlexW2771449874

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.