Skin reference point for the temporal branch of facial nerve

Direct access to the temporal branch of the facial nerve in the parotid is less invasive and more selective than first dissecting the nerve trunk and then finding the branches. The aim of this study was to find the point of reference on skin which would give direct access to the temporal branch of the facial nerve. The skin reference point was 1.7cm above the midpoint of the inter-tragic notch external canthus line. Six adult cadavers (12 hemifaces) were used for the study. The temporal branch of the facial nerve was accessed directly. The dissection was extended to the temporofacial branch and then to the trunk of the facial nerve by a retrograde path in the parotid. he simplicity and reliability of this landmark is important in clinical practice and has numerous potential applications in surgery for rehabilitation of facial paralysis associated with VII healthy and VII affected neurorraphies, in facial paresis for superneurotizations and in traumatology.