[Anatomical study of the superficial cervical plexus: application to the prevention of the postoperative sensitive facial deficits].
BACKGROUND
The cervical surgery can be complicated of postoperative facial sensory deficits, in particular in using the anterior presternocleidomastoid approach. The purpose of this study was to specify the routes and the links of nerves involved in these sensory deficits (great auricular nerve and transverse cervical nerve with the goal, to deducing, if possible, some modifications of the surgical practices to prevent the deficits.


METHODS
Ten dissections of the superficial cervical plexus, on preserved anatomical subjects, were made from February till May 2009. Nerves and whole superficial venous network were dissected on all along their route to be able to make several measures of distances and angles. All the data were computerized treated by spreadsheet.


RESULTS
The transverse cervical nerve appeared from the posterior edge of the sternocleidomasoid (SCM) muscle in 7.46 ± 1.81 cm s (5,1-10,0) of the clavicle, with an angle of 108.3 ± 8.15° (93-120). Its halving terminal branches was made in 2.92 ± 1.76 cm s (0,4-5,2) of the posterior edge of the SCM muscle, with an angle between these two branches of 74.0 ± 36.8° (40-120). The great auricular nerve appeared from the posterior edge of the muscle SCM in 8.96 ± 1.85 cm (6.4-12.0) of the clavicle, with an angle of 64.5 ± 23.39° (35-110), which modified secondarily to measure 39.5 ± 6.15° (27-45) in the middle of the SCM muscle. At this level, the great auricular nerve and the external jugular vein were almost parallel (1.3° of average difference) and the distance that separated them was 2.24 ± 0.79 cm (0.8-3.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study gave us a precise description of the superficial cervical plexus. All the measures allowed the establishment of the routes and the links of these structures to propose peroperating actions to prevent these facial sensory deficits.
Laboratoire d'anatomie, faculté de médecine, rue Haute-de-Reculée, 49045 Angers cedex, France.
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Di Francia
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Papon
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D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D004210:Dissection; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control