title: An original submandibular approach technique sparing the cervical branch of the facial nerve.
abstract: Many articles and anatomy textbooks accurately describe the anatomy and anatomical variations of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve (VII). This is not, however, true for the cervical branch, damage to which results in paralysis of the platysma and, because of its insertions at the lower lip and labial commissure, in disfigurement, especially when smiling. This may be mistaken for paralysis of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. Precise anatomical description of the cervical branch of the facial nerve allows certain technical safeguards to be determined which, if adhered to, should reduce the risk of injury, especially during surgical excision of the submandibular gland on a transcervical approach.
authors.affiliation: Clinique universitaire d'ORL, pôle TCCR, CHU de Grenoble, 1, avenue des Maquis-du-Grésivaudan, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France; Université Joseph-Fourier, Grenoble I, France; Unité Inserm UJF/U823, centre de recherche Albert-Bonniot, Grenoble, France. Electronic address: crighini@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Righini
authors.affiliation: Clinique universitaire d'ORL, pôle TCCR, CHU de Grenoble, 1, avenue des Maquis-du-Grésivaudan, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrossi
authors.affiliation: Clinique universitaire d'ORL, pôle TCCR, CHU de Grenoble, 1, avenue des Maquis-du-Grésivaudan, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France; Université Joseph-Fourier, Grenoble I, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyt
authors.affiliation: Clinique universitaire d'ORL, pôle TCCR, CHU de Grenoble, 1, avenue des Maquis-du-Grésivaudan, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France; Université Joseph-Fourier, Grenoble I, France; Unité Inserm UJF/U823, centre de recherche Albert-Bonniot, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atallah
mesh_terms: D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods
keywords: Cervical branch of the facial nerve; Morbidity; Submandibular gland; Surgery; Transcervical approach