title: Morphometric analysis and anatomical variations of infraorbital foramen: a study in adult North Indian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various studies have been conducted on morphometric variations of infraorbital foramen to provide data to surgeons for nerve block in infraorbital region. This study aims to analyse the anatomical variations by comparing various morphometric measurements of infraorbital foramen in dry skulls of adult North Indian population. This study becomes relevant in the present study group as very scant data is available about the variations and morphometric measurements in Indian population. The data thus collected can be standardized and become useful for the surgeons working in this area of face.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 75 dry adult human skulls, which were a part of Department of Anatomy, used for teaching purposes in medical colleges. Straight distance of the Infraorbital foramen from the infraorbital rim, supraorbital foramen and sagittal plane was measured. The position of the infraorbital foramen was determined in relation to maxillary teeth and supraorbital foramen. The data thus obtained was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distance of infraorbital foramen from infraorbital rim, supraorbital foramen, sagittal plane in the present study was found to be 6.71 ± 1.11 mm, 42.02 ± 4.31 mm and 31.94 ± 4.88 mm respectively. The position of infraorbital foramen was lateral in relation to supraorbital foramen (in 88% of cases). Infraorbital foramen was above the 1st premolar tooth in most of the cases. Accessory infraorbital foramen was found in 11.2% cases (double foramen).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data thus obtained will perhaps be helpful to the surgeons in identifying the extent of the operative field thereby reducing procedural risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342005, India. Electronic address: shilpidr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, ESI Dental College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342005, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nayyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342005, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D002508:Cephalometry; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008442:Maxillary Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods
keywords: Accessory; Foramen infra-orbitaire; Infraorbital foramen; Morphometry; Morphométrie; Procedural risks; Risques de procédure