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Location of infraorbital and accessory infraorbital foramina in Iranian population: a retrospective radiological study with crucial clinical implications

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Abstract

Purpos

The location of infraorbital foramen (IOF) and the prevalence of accessory IOF vary among different populations. It may lead to infraorbital nerve (ION) blockage during surgery. This study aimed to assess the IOF location and AIOF frequency in Iranian people.

Method

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 500 paranasal sinus computed tomography scans of adults were examined using the INFINITT PACS system.

Result

The distance from IOF to infraorbital margin (IOM), mid-pupillary line (MPL), midsagittal line (MSL), canine eminence (CE), and skin thickness (ST) was 8.97 ± 1.79, 5.73 ± 1.84, 24.86 ± 2.23, 20.39 ± 3.47, and 10.90 ± 2.59 mm, respectively. The vertical and transverse diameters of the foramen were 3.03 ± 0.65 and 3.71 ± 0.76 mm, respectively. In addition, the shape of 63.5% of the foramina was oval. The prevalence of AIOF was 9%, and its most common location was superomedial to IOF.

Conclusion

We believe that in this study, landmarks like IOM, MPL, MSL, CE and ST could help the clinicians localize IOF and improve the ION anesthesia success rate. Furthermore, the occurrence of AIOF should be considered by physicians to reduce the chance of injuries to the infraorbital neurovascular complex.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Abbreviations

IOF:

Infraorbital foramen

IOM:

Inferior orbital margin

MSL:

Midsagittal line

CE:

Canine eminence

MGL:

Mid-globe line

MPL:

Mid-pupillary line

AIOF:

Accessory infraorbital foramen

ST:

Skin thickness

VD:

Vertical diameter

TD:

Transverse diameter

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Acknowledgements

This work was extracted from the thesis written by Morteza Raeisi and funded by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran (grants No.24895). We want to thank the Marzieh Shafiee for language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Morteza Raeisi

  2. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Seyed Hamed Jafari

  3. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Fatemeh Karimi

  4. Department of Dermatology, Molecular Dermatology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Zand Ave, Shiraz, 7134844119, Iran

    Fatemeh Karimi & Mohammad Reza Namazi

Authors
  1. Morteza Raeisi
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  2. Seyed Hamed Jafari
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  3. Fatemeh Karimi
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Contributions

Morteza Raeisi Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; MRSeyed Hamed Jafari Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; SHJFatemeh Karimi Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; FKFinal approval of the version to be published; FK Mohammad Reza Namazi Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; MRNFinal approval of the version to be published; MRNSubstantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the workSeyed Hamed Jafari Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; SHJFatemeh Karimi Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; FKFinal approval of the version to be published; FK Mohammad Reza Namazi Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; MRNFinal approval of the version to be published; MRN.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Fatemeh Karimi or Mohammad Reza Namazi.

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Raeisi, M., Jafari, S.H., Karimi, F. et al. Location of infraorbital and accessory infraorbital foramina in Iranian population: a retrospective radiological study with crucial clinical implications. Surg Radiol Anat (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03373-2

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