Interrelated Buccal Fat Pad With Facial Buccal Branches and Parotid Duct

Abstract

The facial nerve branches are vulnerable during manipulation of the buccal fat pad. The aim of this study is to describe the precise anatomical interrelation among the buccal fat pad, buccal branches of the facial nerve, and parotid duct. Nineteen hemifaces of Korean cadavers (11 male and 8 female) fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution were dissected. An average 3.6 buccal branches of the facial nerve were found. The facial buccal branches and parotid duct crossed each other within a semicircle with a 30-mm radius. The base (diameter) is parallel to a horizontal line passing the corner of the mouth and 12 mm above. Its center is located 53 mm lateral to it. The buccal branches of the facial nerve have two locations at the buccal fat pad: Type I, branches crossing superficial to the buccal fat pad in 14 of 19 (73.7%) specimens; and Type II, two twigs passing through buccal extension of the buccal fat pad in 5 of 19 (26.3%). An interrelation of parotid duct and buccal fat pad is as follows: parotid duct crossing superficial to the buccal extension of buccal fat pad in 8 of 19 (42.1%) specimens, crossing deep to the buccal extension of buccal fat pad in 5 of 19 (26.3%) specimens and crossing along the superior border of the buccal extension of buccal fat pad in 6 of 19 (31.6%) specimens. There is a 26.3% chance of injury to the buccal branch during total removal of buccal fat pad. The parotid duct runs deep to the buccal extension of buccal fat pad in 26.3% of cases.