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Facial nerve trunk surgical identification: a new approach
Angela Babuci1, Silvia Stratulat2, Zinovia Zorina3
1Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova. angela.babuci@usmf.md.
Folia Morphologica
|May 6, 2025
Summary
Identifying reliable facial nerve trunk (FNT) landmarks is crucial for surgical safety. This study found several statistically significant anatomical landmarks, varying by gender, laterality, and branching patterns, aiding in FNT surgical access.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Surgical Anatomy
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Iatrogenic injuries to the extracranial facial nerve are a significant risk.
- Current methods for previsualizing the extracranial facial nerve are limited.
- Reliable anatomical landmarks for facial nerve trunk (FNT) identification are critically needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify dependable anatomical landmarks for surgical access to the facial nerve trunk (FNT).
- To analyze the influence of gender, laterality, cephalometric type, and branching patterns on these landmarks.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of 75 adult embalmed cadaver hemifaces.
- Determination of cephalometric type for each head.
- Measurement and statistical analysis of 8 pre-defined anatomical landmarks related to the FNT.
Main Results:
- Six landmarks showed statistical significance based on gender (p ≤ 0.05).
- The FNT/VEAM angle was significant based on laterality (p = 0.049).
- The FNT bifurcation angle was significant based on branching pattern (p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Seven studied landmarks demonstrated statistical significance across various criteria.
- Limitations include a small sample size, male predominance, and a prevalence of mesocephalic individuals.
- These findings contribute to improved pre-surgical planning for facial nerve access.
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