The tortuous course of the anterior ethmoidal artery in the orbit: A cadaveric study

Yaprak, Fulya; Coban, Istemihan; Ozer, Mehmet Asım; Govsa, Figen

doi:10.1016/j.otoeng.2023.12.001

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The relationship between the AEA and the four lamellae, i.e., the vertical bony structures that compartmentalize the ethmoid sinus, has also been analyzed by numerous researchers in the past [ 12 , 13 ]. A deep understanding of the topography of the AEA and its spatial relationships to nearby landmarks is of utmost importance during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) because iatrogenic injury to this vessel may lead to detrimental complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid leak, retro-orbital hematoma, and vision loss [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Hence, the objective of this study was to provide surgeons with the most current and evidence-based information concerning the anatomy of the AEA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Complete Anatomy of the Anterior Ethmoidal Artery: A Meta-Analysis with Implications for Sinus and Skull Base Surgery

Szczepanek,

Toppich,

Ostrowski

et al. 2024

JCM

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Background: The anatomical characteristics of the anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) exhibit a high degree of variability, especially regarding its topography. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched to identify all studies that included information regarding the morphometric and topographical characteristics of the AEA. Results: Ultimately, a compilation of 38 studies meeting the predetermined criteria, and possessing comprehensive and pertinent data, were incorporated into the current meta-analysis. In the overall analysis, reports of the AEA being embedded within the skull base or at the level of the skull base producing a bony protrusion were found in 56.91% of cases (95% CI: 43.55–69.80%). The mean diameters of the AEA in the intraorbital and intracranial areas were 0.94 mm and 0.76 mm, respectively. Moreover, the artery coursed most commonly between the second and third lamellae, with a prevalence of 65.82% (95% CI: 55.39–75.56%). Conclusions: The AEA may be at a high risk of iatrogenic injury during various sinus and skull base surgeries, especially if the surgeon performing these procedures is unfamiliar with the vast number of variations this vessel may exhibit. The spatial relationship between this vessel and the skull base is especially variable, and understanding this variability goes hand in hand with intraoperative safety.

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