[The clinic anatomy of operation on pterygopalatine fossa through nasal cavity under endoscope].

OBJECTIVE

To provide anatomic data of pterygopalatine fossa(PPF) for endoscopic PPF surgery.

METHOD: Fifteen wet adult skull specimen fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studies. From center the skulls were sawed, the middle and inferior turbinate were resected, the anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses were resected. Then after punch out perpendicular part of palatine bone and posterior wall of maxillary,the pterygopalatine fossa were showed and some related measurements were made.

RESULT: This pathway can lead to a good view of pterygopalatine fossa. The main soft structures in PPF were maxillary artery and nerve with their branches. The diameter of artery branches was smaller than 3 mm.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic PPF surgery is safe and practical from the anatomic data.