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Upper neck spinal accessory nerve identification during neck dissection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

T Tatla ,
J Kanagalingam ,
A Majithia  and
P M Clarke
T Tatla
Affiliation:
the Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
J Kanagalingam
Affiliation:
the Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
A Majithia
Affiliation:
the Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
P M Clarke
Affiliation:
the Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
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Abstract

Iatrogenic injury to the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) during neck dissection may result in significant and avoidable morbidity in the form of ’shoulder syndrome’. The authors describe a simple method, based on the anatomy of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), which allows consistent and rapid identification of the SAN in the upper neck during dissection, thereby facilitating its preservation.

Keywords

Accessory NerveAnatomyRegionalNeck DissectionPostoperative Complications
Type
Brief Report
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 119 , Issue 11 , November 2005 , pp. 906 - 908
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

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