title: Patterns and surgical significance of facial nerve branching within the parotid gland in 43 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different patterns of facial nerve branching within the parotid gland were detected, and these anatomical variations may affect the treatment approaches and outcomes of surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of facial nerve branching with the parotid gland and their importance in surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 43 patients undergoing surgical treatments of parotid lesions were included in this study. Each patient's demographic data and type of operation were recorded. In addition, the courses of the facial nerve within the gland were classified into six types according to their branching patterns and communication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all of the patients, the facial nerve consisted of one trunk separated into two divisions. Branching type III was the most common variety found (30.2 %) followed by type II (23.2 %), while type V represented the least frequent pattern (4.6 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential for surgeons to become familiar with the different types of nerve morphologies in order to avoid morbidity and preserve the facial nerve during surgery. Variations and anastomosis can explain the different consequences of facial nerve injury that may occur after parotid surgery.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq. dribsg@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Saeed
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gataa
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq.
authors.forename: Bayad Jaza Mahmood
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Faris
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Facial nerve; Parotid gland; Parotid tumor; Parotidectomy