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Morphometric assessment of important landmarks on skull intended for Vidian nerve surgery

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of our study was to determine guide parameters for clinicians by morphometric assessment of important landmarks on cranium intended for Vidian nerve surgery.

Methods

For the study, 23 half-skull bases, 40 skull bases and 40 skulls were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Ege University Medicine Faculty. The vertical distances were measured using a digital caliper to the nearest 0.01 mm.

Results

The anterior opening of the Vidian canal (pterygoid canal) was observed as oval shaped on 57 specimens (31.1%), funnel shaped on 58 specimens (31.7%), round shaped on 64 specimens (35%) and septated on 4 specimens (2.2%). Vidian canal was embedded into the body of sphenoid on 55 specimens (52.4%) (embedded type) and protruded to sphenoidal sinus on 50 specimens (47.6%) (protruded type). 21 specimens of 50 were partial and 29 specimens were total. There were dehiscences on 21 specimens of 50 protruded type on the base of sphenoidal sinus (20%). Anterior opening of the Vidian canal was assessed according to medial lamina of pterygoid process. It was located medially in 169 of the specimens (92.3%) and laterally in 14 specimens (7.7%).

Conclusion

Vidian canal and Vidian nerve are deeply located structures on skull. Vidian canal and surrounding structures are important landmarks for microsurgery and endoscopic approaches to Vidian nerve. We consider that knowledge of anatomical features of Vidian canal and preoperative imaging by CT (computed tomography) will be supportive when choosing and planning a safe surgical approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

HU was involved in project development, in data analysis and manuscript writing; ZAAI contributed to project development and manuscript writing; MDY analyzed the data, data collection and manuscript editing; EB was involved in data analysis and manuscript editing; LO performed protocol development, data management and manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hulya Ucerler.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ucerler, H., Aktan Ikiz, Z.A., Yoruk, M.D. et al. Morphometric assessment of important landmarks on skull intended for Vidian nerve surgery. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 987–993 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02516-5

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