Upper neck spinal accessory nerve identification during neck dissection.

T Tatla; J Kanagalingam; A Majithia; P M Clarke

doi:10.1258/002221505774783511

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Upper neck spinal accessory nerve identification during neck dissection.

T Tatla·J Kanagalingam·A Majithia·P M Clarke

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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.

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T Tatla, J Kanagalingam, A Majithia, P M Clarke. 2005. Upper neck spinal accessory nerve identification during neck dissection.. https://doi.org/10.1258/002221505774783511

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