These findings suggest that iatrogenic damage of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve can be minimized in anteromedial knee surgery when both the location and the location-dependent direction of the nerve are considered when making the skin incision.
At the saphenopopliteal region, the TN is at risk during EVA. In the distal two-thirds of the lower leg, the SN is at risk for (thermal) damage due to the small distance to the SSV and the absence of the deep fascia between both structures. The proximal one-third of the lower leg is the optimal region for EVA of the SSV to avoid nerve damage; the fascia between the SSV and the SN is a natural barrier in this region that could preclude (thermal) damage to the nerve.
Over the past 10 years, several minimally invasive procedures for thyroid surgery have been developed. Because of extensive dissection in the thoracic and neck region, the name "minimal-invasive" is misleading. The aim of this study was to define a new trans-oral access to the cervical spaces especially to the thyroid on the basis of natural orifice surgery. Three embalmed human specimens were dissected for complete review of the anatomical situation in the cervical region. In additional five fresh frozen human specimens after an experimental trans-oral endoscopic minimally invasive thyroidectomy the anatomical structures of the floor of the oral cavity as well as the anterior neck region were evaluated. It was possible to create a working space under the platysma muscle with respect to the surgical planes of the neck and fascial layers. Within this area, the pretracheal region can be reached and the thyroid gland can be visualized and resected. To access the working space, a trocar for endoscopic view is placed medially in the floor of the oral cavity sublingually. The trocar passes the muscles of the floor of the oral cavity easily without relation to relevant anatomical structures. A first exclusively sublingual approach had to be abandoned because triangulation of the instruments could not be reached. Therefore, the approach was modified by positioning the working trocars in the oral vestibule bilaterally. By this way, a road map for accessing all anterior cervical regions directly under the platysma muscle could be established and anatomical landmarks and areas of possible collateral damage could have been defined. This combined sublingual and bi-vestibular trans-oral endoscopic approach enables an easy access to all structures and spaces of the anterior neck region with respect to anatomical preformed layers neck, even to the thyroid as one of the more distant structures.
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