PubMed2004
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to analyze the anatomical location of hypoglossal nerve at tongue base of male adults to avoid creating a function deficit during radiofrequency of tongue base in OSAHS. METHODS: Ten tongues of male adults in frozen were coronally dissected at foramen cecum, 5 mm,10 mm, 15 mm before/after the foramen cecum. Vertical and horizontal distance of hypoglossal nerve to the surface and middle line of the tongue were measured using computer image procession in micrometer. The data were analyzed with such statistical methods as descriptive statistics, paired t-testing, linear correlation analysis. RESULTS: (1) The anatomical location of the bi-lateral hypoglossal nerve is symmetrical in principle. (2) At the tongue base: The distance of hypoglossal nerve to the surface is 22.21+/-2.22 mm, and has no correlation to the length and the width of the tongue. There are some regularities of the anatomical location of the hypoglossal nerve before/after the foramen cecum. Before the foramen cecum the hypoglossal nerve is located in the mid-medial (21.89+/-1.93)% and after the foramen cecum is in the mid-medial (28.61+/-2.66)%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that if the depth of the needle-polar penetrating into the tongue base doesn't exceed (22.21+/-2.22)mm, and keep away from mid-medial (21.89+/-1.93)% ( before the foramen cecum ) or mid-medial (28.61+/-2.66)% after the foramen cecum, it may be helpful to avoid creating a function deficit when radiofrequency tongue base in snoring and OSAHS is performed.