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pISSN 2005-9159
eISSN 2093-0569
eISSN 2093-0569
Korean J Pain 2023; 36(4): 465-472
Published online October 1, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.23186
Copyright © The Korean Pain Society.
Peng-Bo Zhu1,2 
, Yeon-Dong Kim3,4 , Ha Yeong Jeong1 , Miyoung Yang1,4,5 , Hyung-Sun Won1,4
1Department of Anatomy, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea
2Department of Neurosurgery, Jiujiang University Affiliated Hospital, Jiujiang, China
3Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea
4Jesaeng-Euise Clinical Anatomy Center, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea
5Sarcopenia Total Solution Center, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea
Correspondence to:Hyung-Sun Won
Department of Anatomy, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan 54538, Korea
Tel: +82-63-850-6976, Fax: +82-63-852-9115, E-mail: hswon01@wku.ac.kr
Miyoung Yang
Department of Anatomy, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan 54538, Korea
Tel: +82-63-850-6758, Fax: +82-63-852-9115, E-mail: yangm@wku.ac.kr
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
Handling Editor: Joon-Ho Lee
Received: June 21, 2023; Revised: August 30, 2023; Accepted: September 6, 2023
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) has been widely utilized in the management of trigeminal neuralgia. Despite using image guidance, accurate needle positioning into the target area still remains a critical element for achieving a successful outcome. This study was performed to precisely clarify the anatomical information required to ensure that the electrode tip is placed on the sensory component of the mandibular nerve (MN) at the foramen ovale (FO) level.
Methods: The study used 50 hemi-half heads from 26 South Korean adult cadavers.
Results: The cross-sectioned anterior and posterior divisions of the MN at the FO level could be distinguished based on an irregular boundary and color difference. The anterior division was clearly brighter than the posterior one. The anterior division of the MN at the FO level was located at the whole anterior (38.0%), anteromedial (6.0%), anterior center (8.0%), and anterolateral (22.0%) parts. The posterior division was often located at the whole posterior or posterolateral parts of the MN at the FO level. The anterior divisions covered the whole MN except for the medial half of the posterolateral part in the overwrapped images of the cross-sectional areas of the MN at the FO level. The cross-sectional areas of the anterior divisions were similar in males and females, whereas those of the posterior divisions were significantly larger in males (P = 0.004).
Conclusions: The obtained anatomical information is expected to help physicians reduce unwanted side effects after percutaneous RFTC within the FO for the MN.
Keywords: Foramen Ovale, Mandibular Nerve, Pain, Physicians, Radiofrequency Ablation, Sensation, Trigeminal Nerve, Trigeminal Neuralgia.
