Distribution of the internal nasal branch of the infraorbital nerve to the nasal septum: Application to rhinoplasty.

[BACKGROUND] The course of the nerves along the nasal septum has not been clearly studied, and surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty require a more detailed topography of the nerve supply inside the septum. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the distribution of the internal nasal branch of the infraorbital nerve inside the nasal septum and to define the relationship between it and the nasal cartilages.

[METHODS] Fourteen sides from eight fresh frozen and embalmed Caucasian cadaveric heads were dissected. The specimens were derived from three males and five females. The ages of the cadavers at death ranged from 65 to 84 years. The course of the internal nasal branch and its relationship between the nasal cartilages were observed using a surgical microscope.

[RESULTS] On all sides, the internal nasal branch approached the medial crus of the major alar cartilage from behind and traveled anteriorly below the medial crus of the major alar cartilage while giving off anterior inferior septal, middle inferior septal, and posterior inferior septal branches.

[CONCLUSIONS] Based on the results of this study, we suggest that procedures of the nasal cavity such as rhinoplasty could be modified to avoid injuring the main trunk of the internal nasal branch of the infraorbital nerve inside the nasal septum.