International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 03, Issue: 03, April 2015, Pages 77-81

Case report: Bilateral variation of facial and its implication for facial surgery: A case report

Deepu Singh Kataria 1, Rakesh Kumar Ranjan 2, Nidhi Sharma 3

1 Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre, Moradabad, U.P., India 2 Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P., India 3Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre, Moradabad, U.P., India Corresponding author: Deepu Singh Kataria

Abstract: Face is supplied by the three main arterial trunks: the facial, transverse facial and infraorbital . is known to show some variation in its origin, course and branching pattern. It gives three branches on the face, the inferior labial, superior labial and the lateral nasal and finally continues as the . The anatomical understanding of the facial artery and its branches are especially important in the practice of medical and dental care, in the surgeries of neck and face and also for the radiologist to understand and interpret facial artery imaging when undertaking head angiography. In the present case report we observed that the facial artery terminated as (end artery) on both side of the face. The other branches for the face namely superior labial, lateral nasal and angular arteries arises from the transverse facial artery. Thus the transverse facial artery is making a significant contribution to blood supply of face. This type of atypical branching of facial artery deserves attentions because of large number of interventions on this region, not only in case of trauma, but also in the case of elective surgeries of face pathologies. Key words: Facial artery, Transverse facial artery, Inferior labial artery

Introduction: carotid artery, just above the , at the Vascular variations are congenital morphological level of greater cornu of hyoid bone in the carotid differences that arise in the human body. Although, triangle.[2] It runs upward and forward, passes deep to for the most part, do not cause injury to the the superficial part of submandibular salivary gland individual, may be important in cases where it is making a characteristic loop and wind around the necessary a specific access to the vascular system. inferior margin of the body of the mandible at the For surgeons it is very important to know the exact anteroinferior border of masseter muscle, where its frequency and variations of the arteries in the areas pulse can be felt as it cross the mandible. The artery where they have to operate on. [1] is deep to the skin, fat of cheek, risorius, zygo- Face receives a rich blood supply from the facial and maticus major and minor muscles near the angle of superficial temporal arteries. It is also supplied by mouth, and superficial to buccinators and levator branches of maxillary and ophthalmic arteries. Facial anguli oris muscles. In the face the artery tortuously artery normally arises in the neck from the external runs upward and forward lateral to the angle of 77 www.ijhbr.com ISSN: 2319-7072

International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 03, Issue: 03, April 2015, Pages 77-81

mouth and terminates as angular artery at medial photographs were taken and labeled as shown in angle of eye. It may pass over or through the nose figure 1. towards the medial corner of the eye. At its Case report: termination it is embedded in After the proper dissection of face we observed that alaequae nasi muscle.[3] the right facial artery originating from the external Occasionally the facial artery barely extend beyond carotid artery just superior to the lingual artery. It the angle of the mouth in which case its normal runs forward without forming any loop in the territory beyond this region is taken over by an submandibular region and crosss the inferior margin enlarged transverse facial branch from the superficial of the body of mabndible at anteroinferior border of temporal artery and by branches from the masseter muscle. Here it gives a premassetric branch contralateral facial artery. The facial artery supplies and a submental branch and further runs forward and branches to the muscles and skin of the face. Its terminate as inferior labial artery (end artery). The named branches on the face are the Premasseteric transverse facial artery which is the branch of artery, Superior and Inferior labial arteries and the superficial temporal artery in parotid gland behind Lateral nasal artery. The part of the artery distal to its the neck of mandible continue forward tortuously on terminal branch is called the Angular artery. The masseter muscle and gives and facial artery is tortuous throughout its extent. The lateral nasal artery. Thus the transverse facial artery cervical part is tortuous to adapt to the movements of making a significant contribution to blood supply of pharynx during deglutition and the facial part is face. This variation was present on both the right and tortuous to adapt to the movements of mandible, left side of the face. and cheek. The anesthetists often feel the facial pulse Discussion: for monitoring the patient during surgery that is why Face is supplied by the three main arterial trunks: the it is called Anesthetists artery.[4] facial, transverse facial, and infraorbital arteries. The Materials & Methods: facial artery is usually the largest and dominant artery We used donated dead bodies for the purpose of and plays a major role in supplying blood to the face. medical education and research in the Department of However there are huge variations on its size and Anatomy, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College extent between different individuals and even and Research Centre, Moradabad, UP, India. The between different sides of the face. In the present study involved the head and neck dissection of a study transverse facial artery become dominant and middle aged Indian female cadaver fixed in formalin supply most area of the face which is normally based preservative (10% formaldehyde). supplied by the facial artery. [5] The dissection of head and neck was carried out The anatomical study of the facial artery and its carefully and strictly following the instructions by branches has two important aspects of interest: first, Cunningham's Manual of Practical Anatomy and surgical anatomy in plastic and reparative surgery of observed for variations in the branching pattern of the face and in cases of trauma and congenital facial artery during the year 2014-2015. Appropriate malformation and in the surgery of malignant disease; second, radiological anatomy in the

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treatment of certain facial tumors by embolization (49%). In 5 cases, the facial artery was undetectable procedures.[6,7,8] with the transverse facial arterial dominance (1 case According to a study of 40 facial arteries by Midy D bilateral).[12] et al. , the facial artery has terminated as angular Ezure H et al. also reported a case where the left artery in 27.5% cases, superior labial in 40%, nasal in facial artery was completely absent and it was 30% cases and abortive artery in only one case. compensated by transverse facial artery which had a When the facial artery terminated before reaching the larger than normal diameter. [13] lower lip, it has been called abortive artery. [9] Understanding of the anatomy of facial artery is The examination of 284 hemifaces by Loukas M et necessary not only because it can be used as a pedicle al., showed five types of facial artery termination for some flap, such as nasolabial skin and oral labeled “A” through “E”. Type A (47.5%): facial mucosal flap, but because it is involved in other type artery terminated by bifurcating into superior labial of facial surgery such as rhinoplastic and orofacial artery and lateral nasal; Type B (38.7%): facial artery surgery. Therefore, knowledge about the precise terminating as superior labial artery and lateral nasal course and branching pattern of the facial artery is and further lateral nasal continuing as superior alar required. [14,15] artery; Type C (8.4%): facial artery terminating as Conclusion: superior labial artery; Type D (3.8%): facial artery The main arterial supply of face comes from facial ending as superior alar artery; Type E (1.4%): facial artery. The knowledge about the anomalous artery terminating as a rudimentary twig without branching pattern of facial artery is very essential for providing any significant branches.[10] general practitioners and traumatologists who receive Koh, Kim, Oh et al . studied the topography and the profusely bleeding facial injuries for first aid and course of the facial artery in 91 faces of Korean specialized management respectively. Maxillofacial cadavers. They reported that the final branch of the and plastic surgeons should also give due honour to facial artery was the lateral nasal branch in 44.0% these anomalies before deciding about grafts and whereas it was the angular branch in 36.3% of the other surgical interventions in this region. Thus it is cases. In 54.5% of the cases, the facial artery ended very important for general surgical practitioners and symmetrically. [11] specialists to know about this anomalous branching LOHN, JW et al. studied the course, branching pattern of facial artery for efficient management of patterns, terminations and anomalous variants of the injuries, correction of congenital anomalies like cleft facial artery and on 201cadaveric dissections. lip, cleft palate and while dealing with other All branches originated from a single facial arterial pathologies of maxillofacial region. The present case trunk in 86% of specimens and branching patterns may provide useful information for clinical were symmetrical in 53%. The facial artery applications in different fields of oral and predominantly terminated as a lateral nasal artery maxillofacial surgery.

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Figure 1: Dissection of the right side of the face showing facial and transverse facial artery. ( TFA: transverse facial artery; ILA: inferior labial artery; SLA: superior labial artery; LNA: lateral nasal artery; AA: angular artery)

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