Assessment of relative position of infraorbital foramen in dry adult skulls and its clinical implication

Özet

Aims: Knowledge of the location of infraorbital foramen (IOF) is important to avoid injuries toneurovascular structure which passes through it, as it may occur in surgical procedures suchas rhinoplasty, Caldwell-Luc surgical procedures, tumor surgery, orbita basis reduction, malarregion fractures, and Le Fort type-1 osteotomy. Hence, this foramen should be approachedcarefully to avoid damage.Methods: Ninety dried skull bones of unknown sex, obtained from the clinic of anatomy, MVJMedical College and Research Hospital, were used to study the shape, size, relation to maxillarytooth, presence of accessory foramen and distance of IOF from surface landmarks and resultswere analyzed statistically.Results: The vertical and horizontal diameters of IOF were 3.29±0.82 mm and 3.77±0.85 mm onthe right side, and 3.37±0.81 mm and 3.90±0.96 mm on the left side, respectively. Oval shapewas more common. The distance between IOF and infraorbital margin was 6.34±1.63 mm onthe right side and 6.40±1.48 mm on the left side; alveolar margin of maxilla was 27.82±4.13mm on the right and was 28.40±3.40 mm on the left side; zygomatico-maxillary suture was14.11±2.23 on the right side and 13.87±3.59 mm on the left side; and anterior nasal spine was32.21±3.07 mm on the right side and 32.26±2.29 mm on the left side. Accessory foramen wasseen in 7 (7.7%) skulls. The location of foramen was along 1st premolar tooth on the right sideand towards the 2nd premolar tooth on the left side.Conclusions: This study makes it possible to identify the exact position of IOF and its applicationin various surgical procedures.