Clinical implications of the middle temporal vein with regard to temporal fossa augmentation.
BACKGROUND
The middle temporal vein (MTV) traverses the temporal fossa between the superficial and deep layers of the deep temporal fascia. During filler injection into a deficient temporal fossa, filling agents may be inadvertently injected into the MTV, which results in vascular complications.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the course of the MTV to enable safe filler injection in the temple area.


METHODS
The course and diameter of the MTV were measured in 18 hemifaces from 9 Korean cadavers.


RESULTS
The MTV was located 23.5 and 18.5 mm above the zygomatic arch at the jugale and the zygion, respectively. The diameter of the MTV at its thickest point was 5.1 mm. A splitting and reuniting pattern, such that the MTV occupied more space than a single trunk, was observed in 28% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose that the safest area for filler injection in temporal fossa augmentation is one finger width above the zygomatic arch.
*Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Inchon, Korea; †Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, BK21 PLUS Project, Human Identification Center, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea; ‡Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University, Daejeon, Korea; §Department of Anatomy, Department of Oral Anatomy, Dankook University College of Dentistry, Cheonan, Korea.
Wonsug
W
Jung
Kwan-Hyun
KH
Youn
Sung-Yoon
SY
Won
Jong-Tae
JT
Park
Kyung-Seok
KS
Hu
Hee-Jin
HJ
Kim
D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery