Open AccessAxon numbers and landmarks of trigeminal donor nerves for corneal neurotization
Author(s) -
Eva Györi,
ChiehHan John Tzou,
Wolfgang J. Weninger,
Lukas F. Reissig,
Ursula SchmidtErfurth,
Christine Radtke,
Roman Dunavoelgyi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0206642
Subject(s) - supraorbital nerve , anatomy , medicine , trigeminal nerve , eyelid , axon , cadaver , ophthalmology , anesthesia , corneal reflex , reflex
Purpose Corneal anesthesia leads to chronic corneal injury. This anatomical study characterizes the donor nerve branches of the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves used for corneal neurotization. Methods In 13 non-embalmed cadavers, the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves were dissected and distances to anatomical landmarks measured. Cross-sections of supratrochlear and supraorbital donor nerves were harvested and histomorphometrically analyzed to assess the number of myelinated axons. Results The donor axon counts were 3146 ± 1069.9 for the supratrochlear and 1882 ± 903 for the supraorbital nerve distal to the supraorbital notch. The supratrochlear nerve was dissected on the medial upper eyelid 2 cm lateral to the facial midline and the branch of the supraorbital nerve 1 cm medial to the mid-pupillary line. Conclusion The supraorbital and supratrochlear branches of the trigeminal nerve are potent donor nerves for corneal neurotization in the treatment of neuropathic keratopathy and can be reliably dissected using anatomical landmarks.