A review of the Tragal Pointer: anatomy and its importance as a landmark in surgical procedures.

M. Muhleman; Ch. Wartmann; R. Hage; P. Matusz; M. Shoja; R. Shane Tubbs; M. Loukas

Vol 71, No 2 (2012)

Review article

Published online: 2012-07-02

Submitted: 2012-02-21

Accepted: 2012-04-15

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A review of the Tragal Pointer: anatomy and its importance as a landmark in surgical procedures.

M. Muhleman, Ch. Wartmann, R. Hage, P. Matusz, M. Shoja, R. Shane Tubbs, M. Loukas

Folia Morphol 2012;71(2).

Vol 71, No 2 (2012)

REVIEW ARTICLES

Published online: 2012-07-02

Submitted: 2012-02-21

Accepted: 2012-04-15

Abstract

The tragal pointer has long been used as a surgical landmark for the identification of the facial nerve trunk and the maxillary artery in such procedures as parotidectomy, internal fixation of subcondylar and condylar fractures, mandibular osteotomy, temporomandibular joint arthroplasty and percutaneous blocks of branches of the trigeminal nerve and pterygopalatine ganglion. Aside from its use as an external landmark, it has also been implicated as a contributor to crease formation in the presence of peripheral arterial disease. This article will review the available literature on the tragal pointers use as an external landmark.