Anatomic characteristics of the infraorbital foramen: A cadaver study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to document the variability in the posit ion of the infraorbital foramen with relation to the facial midline, infrao rbital rim, supraorbital notch, and maxillary teeth. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven cadavers (94 sides) were dissected, expo sing the infraorbital foramen, supraorbital foramen, and orbital floor bila terally. Measurements made included oil distance between the infraorbital f oramen and inferior orbital rim; (B) distance of the infraorbital foramen f rom the facial midline; (C) distance of the supraorbital foramen from the f acial midline: (D) distance between the infraorbital foramen and supraorbit al foramen. Means, standard deviations, and ranges were determined, and sta tistical differences were calculated between the left and right orbits and sexes by use of an unpaired sample t-test (P < .05). Results: In men, the mean distance between the infraorbital foramen and the inferior orbital rim was 8.5 +/- 2.2 mm. In women, this was 7.8 +/- 1.6 mm . The distance between the infraorbital foramen from the facial midline was 27.7 +/- 4.3 mm in males and 26.2 +/- 3.2 mm in females, The mean distance between the infraorbital foramen and supraorbital notch in males was 43.3 +/- 3.1 mm and in females was 42.2 +/- 2.4 mm. The average distance of the supraorbital notch from the midline was 26.5 +/- 3.5 mm in males and 26.3 /- 3.3 mm in females. There were no statistically significant differences b etween the left: and right sides or between sexes. The maxillary tooth most commonly found in the same vertical plane as the infraorbital foramen was the first premolar. Multiple ipsilateral foramina were found in 15% of cada vers. Conclusion: These anatomic characteristics may have important implications for surgical and local anesthetic planning. (C) 2000 American Association o f Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.