The prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes: preliminary results.

Abstract

BRANIGAN L. MCGOWAN, DALTON S. BOLON, Dept of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074, and MATTHEW J ZDILLA, Depts of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Graduate Health Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074 and Dept of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine (PALM), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506. The prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes: preliminary results.

The infraorbital foramen is an opening in the maxillary bone below the infraorbital margin of the orbit through which the maxillary nerve travels. The infraorbital foramen is particularly important in nerve block procedures. Occasionally, an accessory infraorbital foramen may be present, complicating nerve block procedures. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes. A total of 565 crania of known sex were assessed (301 males and 264 females). In the total population, 108 of 565 crania (19.1%) were found to have an accessory IOF. With regard to sex, 66 of 301 males (21.9%) and 42 of 264 females (15.9%) were found to have an accessory IOF. The results of this study underscore the importance of screening for the accessory infraorbital foramen in both males and females prior to infraorbital nerve block.