Surgical anatomy of the superficial temporal artery to prevent facial nerve injury during arterial biopsy

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the topographical relationship between the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery (FSTA) and the temporal branch of the facial nerve (TFN) with the aim of preventing nerve injury during FSTA biopsy.

Methods: Fifty-seven hemifaces of 33 cadavers were dissected. Vertical lines drawn to the lateral orbital margin (LOM) and the superior root of the helix were used as the anterior and posterior reference positions, respectively. Horizontal lines drawn through the supraorbital margin and lateral canthus were used as the superior and inferior reference points, respectively. The depth and course relationships of the FSTA and TFN were examined.

Results: Midpoints between the FSTA and TFN are situated approximately 6.0 and 4.5 cm posterior to the lateral orbital margin at the levels of the lateral canthus and supraorbital margin, respectively. The TFN is generally situated 1–2 cm anteriorly and inferiorly to the FSTA in the temporal region. However, in two cases (3.6%), the TFN ran just underneath the FSTA with only a very small safe distance, making it highly vulnerable to iatrogenic injury.

Conclusion: When performing an FSTA biopsy, the surgeon should not dissect below the superficial temporal fascia because there is an overlap between the course of the FSTA and the TFN in a minority of cases. Also, surgical incisions should be made outside the area delineated by an oblique line passing through the points 6.0 and 4.5 cm posterior to the lateral orbital margin at the levels of the lateral canthus and the supraorbital margin, respectively. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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