Spinal accessory nerve anatomy in the posterior cervical triangle: A systematic review with meta-analysis

This study aimed to investigate the anatomy of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) in the posterior cervical triangle, especially in relation to adjacent anatomical landmarks, along with a systematic review of the current literature with a meta-analysis of the data. Overall, 22 cadaveric and three prospective intraoperative studies, with a total of 1346 heminecks, were included in the analysis. The major landmarks relevant to the entry of the SAN at the posterior border of the SCM muscle (PBSCM) were found to be the mastoid apex, the great auricular point (GAP), the nerve point (NP), and the point where the PBSCM meets the upper border of the clavicle. The SAN was reported to enter the posterior cervical triangle above GAP in 100% of cases and above NP in most cases (97.5%). The mean length of the SAN along its course from the entry point to its exit point from the posterior triangle of the neck was 4.07 ± 1.13 cm. The SAN mainly gave off 1 or 2 branches (32.5% and 31%, respectively) and received either no branches or one branch in most cases (58% and 23%, respectively) from the cervical plexus during its course in the posterior cervical triangle. The major landmarks relevant to the entry of the SAN at the anterior border of the TPZ muscle (ABTPZ) were found to be the point where the ABTPZ meets the upper border of the clavicle and the midpoint of the clavicle, along with the mastoid apex, the acromion, and the transverse distance of the SAN exit point to the PBSCM. The results of the present meta-analysis will be helpful to surgeons operating in the posterior cervical triangle, aiding the avoidance of the iatrogenic injury of the SAN.