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Characteristics and dimensions of the infraorbital canal: a radiographic analysis using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)

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Abstract

Purpose

To analyze morphological characteristics and dimensions of the infraorbital canal-groove complex using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to evaluate its relationship with adjacent anatomical structures.

Methods

This retrospective study included CBCT scans of 100 patients taken between January and May 2014. Linear measurements of the infraorbital canal (IOC), the infraorbital groove (IOG) and the infraorbital canal-groove complex (IOC/G) were performed. Morphological variants of the IOC related to the maxillary sinus were classified into three types depending on the extent of protrusion of the canal into the sinus. Angles between the IOC and specific landmarks were measured to determine the direction of the IOC relative to the axial (A-ant) and sagittal (A-horiz) planes.

Results

A total of 127 IOCs were analyzed. The mean length of the IOC/G was 29 ± 3.0 mm. This value comprised the mean distances of the IOC (24.4 ± 2.9 mm) and the IOG (4.6 ± 1.7 mm). For the different types of IOC morphology, Type 1 (IOC embedded in maxillary sinus roof) was the most common (n = 87, 68.5%). The mean angles of A-ant and A-horiz measured 48.9° ± 7.5° and 20.3° ± 7.9°, respectively.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the IOC/G morphology and its variants is important for the prevention of infraorbital nerve injury due to anesthesia or surgical interventions in this area. The presented data of anatomical characteristics of the IOC/G could be helpful for the planning of surgeries in the maxillary region by means of CBCT imaging.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Bernadette Rawyler, Medical Illustrator, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland for the schematic illustrations. The authors are also grateful to Ms. Kar Yan Li, Centralised Research Lab, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, for her valuable assistance regarding the statistical analysis.

Funding

No grants or funding have been received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Marta Fontolliet

  2. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Applied Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Michael M. Bornstein

  3. Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Thomas von Arx

Authors
  1. Marta Fontolliet
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  2. Michael M. Bornstein
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  3. Thomas von Arx
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Contributions

M Fontolliet: Protocol/project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. MM Bornstein: Protocol/project development, data analysis, manuscript editing. Th von Arx: Protocol/project development, manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas von Arx.

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Fontolliet, M., Bornstein, M.M. & von Arx, T. Characteristics and dimensions of the infraorbital canal: a radiographic analysis using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Surg Radiol Anat 41, 169–179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2108-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2108-z

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