Anatomical variation in the cervical branch of the facial nerve: a systematic review

There is a paucity of literature on the anatomical variations of the cervical branch of the facial nerve (CBFN). Poor awareness of its anatomy and variations risks intraoperative damage, misdiagnosis of facial nerve injury and undesirable functional and aesthetic outcomes for patients.

To review anatomical studies on the CBFN and synthesise data on its course, innervations and common variations.

A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of anatomical studies of the cervical branch of the facial nerve was conducted. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to July 2025. Papers were quality appraised, and data relevant to the anatomy of the CBFN were extracted.