title: Revisiting the anatomic relationship of the marginal mandibular nerve and the posterior facial vein: a cadaveric study.
abstract: In preparation for the donor and recipient facial vascularized composite allotransplant (VCA), the marginal mandibular nerve branch should be identified and co-apted to the recipient's nerve to allow for re-innervation. We describe a method to identify the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve in facial VCA donors and recipients. Through cadaver dissections, the posterior facial vein was traced posteriorly to identify the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. In cases where we were unable to use this relationship, we found the posterior facial venous system to be diminutive. This technique is useful for finding the marginal mandibular branch when dissecting anterograde to the parotid gland.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Plastic Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Emile N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Borsuk
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Christy
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bojovic
authors.forename: Eduardo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dorafshar
mesh_terms: D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D054445:Facial Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology