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Anatomical localisation of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve
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Abstract
The branches which lay above the lower border of the mandible were always deep into the superficial layer of the parotid fascia, while below the mandible all the branches ran intrafascially. The termination of the nerve was always deep to the muscles of the lower lip.
The results of the present study were discussed and correlated with the results of other authors from the anatomical and surgical points of view. It is concluded that the lower border of the mandible can serve as an important landmark to help avoid injury to the nerve; above it a subplatysmal flap is satisfactory but below it a subfascial flap is much safer.
Abstract
The branches which lay above the lower border of the mandible were always deep into the superficial layer of the parotid fascia, while below the mandible all the branches ran intrafascially. The termination of the nerve was always deep to the muscles of the lower lip.
The results of the present study were discussed and correlated with the results of other authors from the anatomical and surgical points of view. It is concluded that the lower border of the mandible can serve as an important landmark to help avoid injury to the nerve; above it a subplatysmal flap is satisfactory but below it a subfascial flap is much safer.
Keywords
subfascial flap; subplatysmal flap; mandibular nerve
Title
Anatomical localisation of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
307-313
Published online
2007-08-13
Page views
660
Article views/downloads
7141
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2007;66(4):307-313.
Keywords
subfascial flap
subplatysmal flap
mandibular nerve
Authors
A. Al-Hayani