A Morphological Analysis of the Facial Nerve in Korean Fetuses and Stillborn Infants

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The accurate anatomy of the facial nerve is essential for successful surgical outcome. The purpose of the present study is to know such information on the facial nerve from a series of specimens. METHODS: This study is based on cadaveric dissection of 41 Korean fetus and stillborn infant and describes anatomical variations of the peripheral branches of the facial nerve that pose a importance in a number of neruosurgical procedure. RESULTS: The branching patterns were classified into six types according to modified Davis classification : the frequencies of occurrence were : type I, 4.9%; type II, 24.4%; type III, 34.1%; type IV, 19.5%; type V, 12.2%; and type VI, 4.9%. Types II, III and IV together accounted for almost 80% of the specimens. CONCLUSION: Compared to previous adult and western stillborn fetus cadaveric studies, there was no significant difference in the percentage of the types between the subjects in the present study, similar pattern and anatomic distribution.