Spite the tongue, Save the face!

Do you know that Otorhinolaryngologists occasionally 'sacrifice' the 12th cranial nerve (hypoglossal, responsible for tongue movement) in order to repair the damaged facial nerve?

Such surgery often results in severe tongue hemiatrophy. 

This technique of classical facial reanimation has been used for over 100 years since original description by Korte in 1903. The technique was refined in 1997 when partial direct hypoglossal - facial anastomoses was described. 

Reference:

Surg Neurol Int 2012, 3:46