The stylomastoid artery as an anatomical landmark to the facial nerve during parotid surgery: a clinico-anatomic study.
BACKGROUND
The identification of the facial nerve can be difficult in a bloody operative field or by an incision that limits exposure; hence anatomical landmarks and adequate operative exposure can aid such identification and preservation. In this clinico-anatomic study, we examined the stylomastoid artery (SMA) and its relation to the facial nerve trunk; the origin of the artery was identified on cadavers and its nature was confirmed histologically.


METHODS
The clinical component of the study included prospective reviewing of 100 consecutive routine parotidectomies; while, the anatomical component of the study involved dissecting 50 cadaveric hemifaces.


RESULTS
We could consistently identify a supplying vessel, stylomastoid artery, which tends to vary less in position than the facial nerve. Following this vessel, a few millimetres inferiorly and medially, we have gone on to identify the facial nerve trunk, which it supplies, with relative ease. The origin of the stylomastoid artery, in our study, was either from the occipital artery or the posterior auricular artery.


CONCLUSIONS
This anatomical aid, the stylomastoid artery, when supplemented by the other more commonly known anatomical landmarks and intra-operative facial nerve monitoring further reduces the risk of iatrogenic facial nerve damage and operative time.
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK. mrtupile@yahoo.com
Tahwinder
T
Upile
Waseem
W
Jerjes
Seyed Ahmad Reza
SA
Nouraei
Sandeep U
SU
Singh
Panagiotis
P
Kafas
Ann
A
Sandison
Holger
H
Sudhoff
Colin
C
Hopper
D002102:Cadaver; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies