Anatomical Variations of Infraorbital Foramen in Dry Human Adult Egyptian Skulls, Anthropometric Measurements and Surgical Relevance

Abstract

Objectives: Evidence supports a clear racial variation in the position of the infraorbital foramen (IOF). Therefore detailed knowledge of the population specific data on biometric features of (IOF) will facilitate therapeutic, diagnostic and surgical manipulations in the maxillofacial region. The goal of this study was to elucidate the morphological features and precise anatomical position of the (IOF) with reference to surrounding anatomical landmarks in an adult Egyptian population. Materials and methods:Fifty-nine adult dry Egyptian skulls (32 males and 27 females) were assessed to determine the number, shape, orientation, vertical and transverse diameters of the IOF, transverse distance from the IOF to the maxillary midline, the zygomaticomaxillary suture and the vertical distance from the IOF to the infraorbital rim and accessory infraorbital foramen using a metal casting digital vernier caliper. The position of the IOF was determined in relation to the maxillary teeth. The findings indicated that the size of the IOF and the mean distances from the IOF to the maxillary midline, infraorbital rim and foramen was significantly larger in males than in females. Results:The majority of IOF among the skulls were semilunarshaped in 59.4% in male skulls and 48.1% in female skulls. The majority were directed inferomedially in 88.9% in female skulls and 78.1 % in male skulls. Accessory foramina were found in 21.87% of male skulls and 18.5% of female skulls. All had bilateral double foramina except for one male skull and one female skull. Conclusion:The racial and gender differences of the IOF emphasize the need for meticulous preoperative evaluation of the IOF in patients who are candidates for maxillofacial surgeries and regional block anesthesia.

Morphometric Analysis of the Infraorbital Foramen: The Clinical Relevance

“…followed by a position in between the first and second upper premolar teeth (34.4% and 26.5% on the right and left side, resp.). This observation supports the findings of previous reports showing that the IOF is commonly related to the vertical plane passing through the tip of the buccal cusp of the maxillary second premolar tooth [5, 23]. However, according to Aziz et al [3], the maxillary tooth most commonly found in the same vertical plane as the IOF was the first premolar.…”

Morphometric Analysis of Infraorbital Foramen Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in a Cohort of Sri Lankan Adults

“…The presence of an AIOF and the accessory branch of the infraorbital nerve raises a mark of caution to both the surgeons and anesthetists as an injury to this branch during surgical maneuvering in the maxillofacial region can result in a sensory deficit and when administering the infraorbital nerve block it may result in insufficient anaesthesia in the region. Double and triple IOF, or accessory foramina were not encountered in the present study, although an occurrence as 2.2-18.2 and 0.5-1.28 %, respectively, has been reported in several previous studies (Leo et al;Aziz et al, 2000;Apinhasmit et al;Boopathi et al;Ilayperuma et al;Elsheikh et al;Dagistan et al;Potu et al;Sokhn et al).…”

“…The IOF may have an accessory foramen by its side, which may be single or multiple. The occurrence of multiple/ accessory infraorbital foramina (AIOF) is extensively reported in the literature (Apinhasmit et al, 2006;Boopathi et al;Ilayperuma et al;Elsheikh et al;Dagistan et al;Potu et al;Sokhn et al). As early as in 1875 Gruber reported that the number of accessory IOF may vary from 1 to 5 (Leo et al, 1995).…”

“…Therefore, knowing the exact anatomical location is important in order to guarantee safe and successful delivery of regional anesthesia and to evade the risk of iatrogenic injuries. Multiple studies carried out using dry skulls have demonstrated that the dimensions and relative positions of the IOF vary between different populations and sex (Apinhasmit et al, 2006;Boopathi et al, 2010;Elsheikh et al, 2013;Potu et al, 2019). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has also been considered in previous research to ascertain the same (Dagistan et al, 2017;Bahsi et al, 2019;Sokhn et al, 2019).…”

Contribuição ao estudo antropométrico do forame infraorbital em crânios humanos

“…Em nosso estudo, encontramos alguns aspectos morfológicos interessantes como a predominância da forma oval (45%) seguido de circular e semilunar, esses resultados corroboram com estudos com população de crânios indianos (Potu et al, 2019) neste mesmo estudo foi encontrado formato triangular, enquanto em estudos com crânios de população egípcia a predominância é descrita como semilunar em 54% das amostras (Elsheikh et al, 2013b(Elsheikh et al, , 2013a.…”