Objectives: To determine and to standardize the certain anatomical relations, and the precise size, course, and location of the infraorbital foramen, canal, and groove for facilitating surgical and invasive procedures.
Study design: This anatomical study consisted of two main steps, namely, the examination of skulls and the cephalometric analysis of the skulls. Measurements of the skulls and of the radiograms were performed.
Methods: Thirty-five adult bony heads (70 sides) were studied regarding the localization and dimensions of the infraorbital groove (IOG), infraorbital canal (IOC), and infraorbital foramen (IOF) as well as their relationships with different anatomical landmarks. The cephalometric analysis of the skulls was measured for evaluating the relationships of certain anatomical points and the distances of the skulls in the cephalometric analysis. For this purpose, 13 different distances and two angles were measured on anteroposterior and lateral craniographies. Differences between data of skull and cephalogram measurements were analyzed by the Student t test. The Pearson correlation test was used in the statistical analysis of the 15 values in the cephalogram.
Results: Examination of the 70 sides of the 35 bony heads revealed that the shape of the IOF was oval in 34.3%, round in 38.6%, and semilunar in 27.1% of all skulls. The IOF was single in 94.3% and double in 5.7% of the cases. The average distance from the IOF to the infraorbital margin and to the lateral process of the canine tooth in vertical direction and to the lateral nasal border in horizontal direction were 7.19 +/- 1.39 mm, 33.94 +/- 3.15, and 17.23 +/- 2.64 mm, respectively. In cephalometric analysis, when S-N (the distance between the center of the sella turcica and the nasion) and N-ANS (the distance between the nasion and the anterior nasal spine) distances were used as independent parameters for the linear analysis, the correlation of the three values for both independent parameters were statistically significant.
Conclusion: While the IOF has no statistically significant changes with regard to the size of the skull, expressive changes take place in the course and the length of the IOG and IOC. Meticulous preoperative evaluation of the IOF and the route of the infraorbital nerve are necessary in patients who are candidates for maxillofacial surgery and regional block anesthesia. If these measurements are taken into account, there will be little surgical risk, and this will be helpful in identifying the extent of the operative field.