Demonstration of the Neurovasculature of the Platysma Muscle and Its Role in Facial Reanimation

Abstract

The platysma is a superficial muscle located in the neck overlapping the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It is innervated by the cervical branch of facial nerve. The platysma is a potential candidate for use in free muscle transfer for facial reanimation around the eye due to its lack of muscle bulk. It has been used extensively in intraoral reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of using platysma free flap through detailing the precise neurovasculature of the platysma in relation to two bony landmarks: the mental protuberance and the angle of the mandible. Measurements were done using calipers to measure the shortest distance from the edge of the insertion of each vessel or nerve to the mark of the mental protuberance or angle of the mandible on the platysma. Measurements were taken to 6 old male German cadavers, 4 Caucasian Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabi and 20 cadavers' specimens and jars from Human Anatomy and Embryology department, Zagazig University. Our results show there are close proximity to the cervical branch of the facial nerve and the blood vessels of platysma would be attached to the superficial temporal branches and the nerve of platysma attached to an ipsilateral branch of the facial nerve. KEY WARDS: Platysma, Neurovasculature, Facial Nerve, Muscle Transfer, Mandible.