CBCT assessment of infraorbital foramen for maxillary sinus procedures: a cross-sectional variation according to age and gender in a Lahore-based Pakistani population

Infraorbital foramen on CBCT in Pakistani Punjab

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The infraorbital foramen (IOF) serves as a critical anatomical landmark for maxillofacial surgeries and nerve blocks. Its location is traditionally aligned with the maxillary second premolar, which may vary, potentially affecting surgical outcomes. This study aims to determine the location of IOF relative to various local anatomical reference points and to analyze variations across gender and age groups in the Lahore-based Pakistani Punjabi sub-population.

METHODOLOGY: Eighty-one CBCT scans, without maxillary pathologies, were analyzed. Distances were measured from IOF to the buccal cusp of the second premolar (IOF-PM), alveolar crest (IOF-AC), mid-maxillary line (IOF-MML), and lateral nasal wall (IOF-LNW). Data were stratified by gender and age groups, and statistical significance was assessed by comparing them between the two sides.

RESULTS: Significant asymmetry was observed only in the IOF-LNW distance, with right and left measurements of 12.90 ±2.64 mm and 11.91 ±2.64 mm, respectively. Males showed significantly greater IOF-PM and IOF-AC distances bilaterally than females (p≤0.001), while IOF-MML differed significantly by gender on the left Side only (p=0.008). Age-related differences were significant for IOF-PM bilaterally (right p=0.047; left p=0.007), IOF-MML on the right Side (p=0.034), and IOF-AC on the left Side (p=0.022).

CONCLUSION: The IOF position demonstrates variations in side asymmetry, gender, and age. Understanding these differences enhances clinical precision for Pakistani Punjabi demographics, aiding in surgical planning for various maxillofacial surgeries and reducing iatrogenic risks.