Anatomic characteristics of the infraorbital foramen: a cadaver study

The aim of this study was to document the variability in the position of the infraorbital foramen with relation to the facial midline, infraorbital rim, supraorbital notch, and maxillary teeth.

Forty-seven cadavers (94 sides) were dissected, exposing the infraorbital foramen, supraorbital foramen, and orbital floor bilaterally. Measurements made included (A) distance between the infraorbital foramen and inferior orbital rim; (B) distance of the infraorbital foramen from the facial midline; (C) distance of the supraorbital foramen from the facial midline; (D) distance between the infraorbital foramen and supraorbital foramen. Means, standard deviations, and ranges were determined, and statistical differences were calculated between the left and right orbits and sexes by use of an unpaired sample t-test (P < .05).

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 between 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 cadavers.

These anatomic characteristics may have important implications for surgical and local anesthetic planning.