Nikolaidis Vasilios, Nalbadian Meri, Psifidis Anestis, Themelis Christos, Kouloulas Athanasios
2nd Department of Otolaryngology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Clin Anat. 2009 Apr;22(3):307-10. doi: 10.1002/ca.20749.
There is a conroversy in the literature about the length of the proximal tympanic segment of the facial nerve (PTSFN). The objective of the current study is to measure the length of the tympanic segment of the facial nerve (TSFN) and of its proximal (PTSFN) and distal (DTSFN) segments, in normal human temporal bones. Moreover, we will explore if these lengths are correlated. If a form of a functional relationship can be established, it could offer insights in partially predicting or estimating the length of the TSFN as well as of its proximal and distal portions. Direct measurements were obtained in 40 normal human temporal bones, which were examined by surgical dissection. Relationships between these measurements were established using Pearson's correlation method (two-tailed). The length of the TSFN was on average 10.97 mm. The length of the PTSFN was on average 5.25 mm and of the DTSFN was 5.72 mm. No significant statistical differences according to gender or side (right or left) were detected. It was determined that the length of the TSFN was in linear correlation with positive direction with its proximal (PTSFN) and distal (DTSFN) segments. Also the PTSFN length was in linear correlation with positive direction with the DTSFN length. The length of the PTSFN comprises about one-half of the TSFN length. The existence of a definite correlation between the lengths of the TSFN, PTSFN, and DTSFN implies the existence of a form of functional interrelationship. This could facilitate prediction and identification of the TSFN and PTSFN lengths from the easily identifiable DTSFN length during surgery.
关于面神经鼓室段近端（PTSFN）的长度，文献中存在争议。本研究的目的是测量正常人类颞骨中面神经鼓室段（TSFN）及其近端（PTSFN）和远端（DTSFN）的长度。此外，我们将探讨这些长度是否相关。如果能够建立一种功能关系形式，它可能有助于部分预测或估计TSFN及其近端和远端部分的长度。通过手术解剖对40块正常人类颞骨进行直接测量。使用Pearson相关方法（双侧）建立这些测量值之间的关系。TSFN的平均长度为10.97毫米。PTSFN的平均长度为5.25毫米，DTSFN的平均长度为5.72毫米。未检测到根据性别或侧别（右侧或左侧）的显著统计学差异。确定TSFN的长度与其近端（PTSFN）和远端（DTSFN）段呈正线性相关。PTSFN长度也与DTSFN长度呈正线性相关。PTSFN的长度约占TSFN长度的一半。TSFN、PTSFN和DTSFN长度之间存在明确的相关性，这意味着存在一种功能相互关系形式。这有助于在手术过程中根据易于识别的DTSFN长度预测和识别TSFN和PTSFN的长度。
