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Systematic review and meta-analysis of the anatomy of the maxillary artery using the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) checklist

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Abstract

Background

The maxillary artery (MA) is one of the terminal branches of the external carotid artery (ECA) and through its branches, it is responsible for vascularizing several organs and muscles of the head and neck, including their surrounding soft tissues, the oral and sinonasal cavities, dura mater, and various cranial nerves. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of maxillary artery anatomy according to the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) checklist.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search through PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, Springerlink, WILEY and BIREME databases. We applied the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) checklist for analysis the methodological quality of the articles.

Results

From a total of 11,759 articles found in the first search, and after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, in addition to eliminating duplicate articles, a final number of 24 articles were identified. The information on the maxillary artery was analyzed from each study regarding its course in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle, the intra- and extraluminal diameters of the maxillary artery and its branches, and the types of branching of the maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa.

Conclusion

From this study, it was possible to conclude the importance of anatomical knowledge of the maxillary artery, for its application in the clinical study of the head and neck, as well as the need to apply the AQUA checklist in the development of systematic anatomical reviews to ensure accurate reliability and a better assessment of the effect of anatomical publications.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Universidad de La Frontera, Project IAF18-0014 and by Red Estatal de Odontología, Project REO19-014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plastination and Anatomical Techniques, Centre for Research in Dental Sciences (CICO), Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Nicolás E. Ottone & Ramón Fuentes

  2. Department of Integral Adults Odontology, Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Nicolás E. Ottone & Ramón Fuentes

  3. Center of Excellence in Morphological and Surgical Studies (CEMyQ), School of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Nicolás E. Ottone

  4. Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Carreras 753, Osorno, Chile

    Cristian Sandoval

  5. Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Cristian Sandoval

  6. Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Pamela Cid-Gutierrez & Marta L. Vásquez-Balboa

  7. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  8. Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  9. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  10. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

  11. Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

Authors
  1. Nicolás E. Ottone
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  2. Cristian Sandoval
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  3. Pamela Cid-Gutierrez
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  4. Marta L. Vásquez-Balboa
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  5. R. Shane Tubbs
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  6. Ramón Fuentes
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Contributions

NO conceptualization, search strategies, quality assessment: risk of bias, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing. CS shortlisting of manuscripts, quality assessment: risk of bias, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing. PC-G literature search, collection of literature, shortlisting of manuscripts, quality assessment: risk of bias. MLV-B literature search, collection of literature, Shortlisting of manuscripts, Manuscript preparation. ST quality assessment: risk of bias, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing. RF quality assessment: risk of bias, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicolás E. Ottone.

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Ottone, N.E., Sandoval, C., Cid-Gutierrez, P. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the anatomy of the maxillary artery using the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) checklist. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1875–1886 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02825-3

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