AAS ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 227-231.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2015.02.014

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Clinical anatomy of the vidian nerve

XU Ming1 JIANG KaiWANG Xin-dong ZHANG Bin HE Yong 1*   

  1. 1. Departmemt of Otolaryngology; 2. Department of Radiology; 3. Department of Neurosurgery,Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University School of Medicine,Zhejiang Ningbo;315020,China
  • Received:2014-07-03 Revised:2014-08-22 Online:2015-04-06 Published:2015-04-06
  • Contact: HE Yong E-mail:222@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To explore clinical anatomy of the vidian canal as an anatomical landmark in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Methods Coronary CT images of the sphenoid sinus from 256 patients with chronic rhinitis and three-dimensional bone CT reconstruction of the vidian canal from 26 patients with allergic rhinitis were studied. Dissection was performed on 6 cadavers (12 sides) to better understand the complicated anatomical relationships of the vidian nerve and analyze the clinical significance of vidian nerve as an anatomical landmarks. Results The vidian canals protruding into the sphenoid sinus cavity was observed in 18.8% (48/256), within-the-floor of the canals in 32.8% (84/256), and under the floor in 48.8% (124/256). The distances between the anterior opening of the vidian canal(VC) and the sphenopalatine foramen (SPF), foramen rotundum (FR) were (6.0±2.4)mm, (3.6±0.9)mm and (16.9±1.9)mm. The mean diameters of the VC and FR were (4.6±0.5)mm and (2.7±0.7)mm, respectively. Vidian canal served as a route for resection of maxillary nerve or pterygopalatine ganglion and was an important landmarks in directing endoscopic approaches to the petrous carotid and the anteromedial part of the cavernous sinus and Meckel’s cave. Conclusion Vidian neurovascular bundle is important for guiding endoscopic endonesal skull base surgery and precisely localizing them is helpful to ensure the safety of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

Key words: Vidian nerve, Endoscopy, Applied anatomy, Surgical procedure, CT, Human