[Meaning of stylopharyngeal fascia in intraoral block techniques].

BACKGROUND

The almost unknown stylopharyngeal fascia may be one of the reasons for unsuccessful therapy of the trigeminal neuralgia by a transoral block of the superior ganglion of the sympathetic trunk. We investigated the anatomy of the fascia to show the efficiency of the block for this therapy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

103 halves of human heads were investigated. The stylopharyngeal fascia was dissected by a lateral approach. We classified three groups. Group A was formed by fascias without perforation, group B by perforated fascias and group C by all halves without a developed fascia.

RESULTS

We found a fully developed fascia in 86 cases. 13 halves had perforated fascias; in 4 cases the fascia was not developed.

CONCLUSION

The stylopharyngeal fascia may inhibit the distribution of opoids into the infratemporal fossa associated with a consecutive block of the mandibular nerve and lower the rate of pain relief.