[Anatomic considerations in relation to the importance of the external branch of the spinal nerve in surgery on the posterior cervical triangle].
The integrity of the spinal accessory nerve plays an important role in cervicofacial surgery since the majority of surgical approaches involve this structure. The resection of the spinal accessory nerve leads to the so-called <<shoulder syndrome>> mainly due to the denervation of the trapezius. This syndrome is characterised by the onset of regional pain, functional deficit and deformation of the shoulder joint. The anatomy of the accessory nerve is defined in the light of 93 functional neck dissections with particular regard to the following aspects: its relation with the internal jugular vein, its relation with the sternocleidomastoid muscle (ECM) and mastoid tip and its anastomoses with the cervical plexus.
Vallejo Valdezate
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Servicio de ORL, Hospital Universitario Del Río Hortega, Valladolid, 47010, España. lvallejov@seorl.org
Díaz Suárez
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I
De Las Heras
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P
Cuetos
M
M
Gil-Carcedo García
L M
LM
D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002572:Cervical Plexus; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged