Topographical anatomy of the temporomandibular joint surgery

Relationship between ramifications of the facial nerve and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) have been studied with a special reference to the surgical approach. Forty-four TMJ from 22 adult cadavers were dissected in order to observe ramifications of the facial nerve and examine the relations between them and TMJ.It was concluded that the temporal branches of the facial nerve were preserved from surgical injury using the temporal approach for surgery of the TMJ (Al-Kayat and Bramley approach and its conservative modification).