Title
Surgical anatomy of the lingual nerve for palate surgery: where is located and how to avoid it
Date Issued
01 January 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Baptista P.
Calvo-Imirizaldu M.
Terrasa D.
Moffa A.
Casale M.
Alcalde J.
O’Connor-Reina C.
Plaza G.
Fernández S.
Clinica Universidad de Navarra
Publisher(s)
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Abstract
Purpose: To describe the anatomic relationship of the lingual nerve with the lateral oropharyngeal structures. Methods: An anatomic dissection of the lateral oropharyngeal wall was conducted in eight sides from four fresh-frozen cadaveric heads. Small titanium clips were placed along the lingual nerve and the most anterior and medial border of the medial pterygoid muscle. Radiological reconstructions were employed for optimal visualization; the coronal view was preferred to resemble the surgical position. The distance between the lingual nerve and the medial pterygoid muscle at its upper and lower portion was measured radiologically. The trajectory angle of the lingual nerve with respect to the pterygomandibular raphe was obtained from the intersection between the vector generated between the clips connecting the upper and lower portion of the medial pterygoid muscle with the vector generated from the lingual nerve clips. Results: The mean distance from the upper portion of the medial pterygoid muscle and superior lingual nerve clips was 10.16 ± 2.18 mm (mean ± standard deviation), and the lower area of the medial pterygoid muscle to the lingual nerve was separated 5.05 ± 1.49 mm. The trajectory angle of the lingual nerve concerning to the vector that describes the upper portion of the most anterior and medial border of the medial pterygoid muscle with its lower part was 43.73º ± 11.29. Conclusions: The lingual nerve runs lateral to the lateral oropharyngeal wall, from superiorly–inferiorly and laterally–medially, and it is closer to it at its lower third.
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Cirugía
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85133257711
PubMed ID
Source
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
ISSN of the container
09374477
Sponsor(s)
We sincerely thank Dr. Elisa Mengual, María Antonia Gallego, and Pedro García from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Navarra for the help provided during the study.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus