Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance

Introduction: Facial nerve paralysis is a major complication of parotid surgery and is widely reported. Little attention is paid to the facial nerve trunk in children. The facial nerve trunk in children and infants can be easily injured since they lie close to the surface. The present study therefor...

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Main Authors: Kotian SR, Singh A, Mittal S, D Souza AS, Kalthur SG, Sumalatha S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Light House Polyclinic Mangalore 2016-01-01
Series:Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ojhas.org/issue56/2015-4-12.html
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author Kotian SR
Singh A
Mittal S
D Souza AS
Kalthur SG
Sumalatha S
author_facet Kotian SR
Singh A
Mittal S
D Souza AS
Kalthur SG
Sumalatha S
author_sort Kotian SR
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Facial nerve paralysis is a major complication of parotid surgery and is widely reported. Little attention is paid to the facial nerve trunk in children. The facial nerve trunk in children and infants can be easily injured since they lie close to the surface. The present study therefore intends to describe the variability in the facial nerve trunk and its branching pattern in foetuses. Methods: The study was done bilaterally in 30 formalin-fixed foetuses (15 females, 15 males), age ranging from 21.0 to 35.5 weeks of gestation. The length of the facial nerve trunk was measured and bifurcation and trifurcation of the trunk was examined. Variability in the branching pattern was also noted. Results: The most common facial nerve trunk branching type was bifurcation (53.33%), followed by trifurcation (33.33%). Multiple branching of the facial nerve was also observed in 13.34% of the cases. Other variations related to the facial nerve were also noted. The mean length of the facial nerve trunk was 7.15 ± 2.12 mm. There was no significant difference between the right and left sides and in case of males and female foetuses. Conclusion: Facial nerve injury during parotid surgery is a main cause of paediatric facial paralysis. The length of the facial nerve trunk therefore must be accurately known in any surgical procedure planned in the area. The main furcation of the facial nerve should also receive special attention.
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spelling doaj.art-e55675d59db64da0b1f7801e23429e732022-12-21T23:32:08ZengLight House Polyclinic MangaloreOnline Journal of Health & Allied Sciences0972-59972016-01-01144Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical RelevanceKotian SR0Singh A1Mittal S2D Souza AS3Kalthur SG4Sumalatha S5Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaIntroduction: Facial nerve paralysis is a major complication of parotid surgery and is widely reported. Little attention is paid to the facial nerve trunk in children. The facial nerve trunk in children and infants can be easily injured since they lie close to the surface. The present study therefore intends to describe the variability in the facial nerve trunk and its branching pattern in foetuses. Methods: The study was done bilaterally in 30 formalin-fixed foetuses (15 females, 15 males), age ranging from 21.0 to 35.5 weeks of gestation. The length of the facial nerve trunk was measured and bifurcation and trifurcation of the trunk was examined. Variability in the branching pattern was also noted. Results: The most common facial nerve trunk branching type was bifurcation (53.33%), followed by trifurcation (33.33%). Multiple branching of the facial nerve was also observed in 13.34% of the cases. Other variations related to the facial nerve were also noted. The mean length of the facial nerve trunk was 7.15 ± 2.12 mm. There was no significant difference between the right and left sides and in case of males and female foetuses. Conclusion: Facial nerve injury during parotid surgery is a main cause of paediatric facial paralysis. The length of the facial nerve trunk therefore must be accurately known in any surgical procedure planned in the area. The main furcation of the facial nerve should also receive special attention.http://www.ojhas.org/issue56/2015-4-12.htmlFacial nerveFoetusParotid glandAnatomy
spellingShingle Kotian SR
Singh A
Mittal S
D Souza AS
Kalthur SG
Sumalatha S
Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences
Facial nerve
Foetus
Parotid gland
Anatomy
title Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
title_full Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
title_fullStr Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
title_full_unstemmed Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
title_short Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance
title_sort facial nerve in foetal cadavers an anatomical study with clinical relevance
topic Facial nerve
Foetus
Parotid gland
Anatomy
url http://www.ojhas.org/issue56/2015-4-12.html
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AT singha facialnerveinfoetalcadaversananatomicalstudywithclinicalrelevance
AT mittals facialnerveinfoetalcadaversananatomicalstudywithclinicalrelevance
AT dsouzaas facialnerveinfoetalcadaversananatomicalstudywithclinicalrelevance
AT kalthursg facialnerveinfoetalcadaversananatomicalstudywithclinicalrelevance
AT sumalathas facialnerveinfoetalcadaversananatomicalstudywithclinicalrelevance