Morphometric Analysis of Infraorbital Foramen in South Indian Population

Background: Infraorbital foramen (IOF) is located on the maxillary bone 1 cm inferior to the infraorbital margin. IOF transmits infraorbital vessels and nerve. Infraorbital nerve supplies the skin of the cheek, upper lip and side of the nose. The knowledge of location of IOF gives important data in giving local anaesthesia in maxillofacial and plastic surgeries. Aims and objectives: To study the shape of IOF and the mean distance between IOF and maxillary midline. Materials and methods: 42 dried human skulls with unknown age and sex at the Department of Anatomy, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool. Observations were made by direct inspection for shape and distance between IOF and maxillary midline measured using sliding Vernier calipers and mean distance was calculated. Results: Most common shape of IOF was oval followed by semicircular and then circular. The mean distance between IOF and maxillary midline was 27.7 mm. Conclusion: Infraorbital nerve, emerging through the IOF, is the nerve of choice for regional nerve block during maxillofacial surgeries. Exact knowledge of location of IOF is essential to avoid injury to infraorbital nerve. Therefore, the results of present study have clinical importance while performing surgical procedures in the infraorbital region to prevent iatrogenic complications.