¸ñÀû: The infraorbital nerve (ION) normally courses through the infraorbital
canal (IOC) within the roof of the maxillary sinus. However, there are
some anatomic variations of the IOC protruding into the maxillary sinus,
which may increase the risk of iatrogenic injury on the ION during
sinonasal surgeries. This study aimed to investigate the morphometry of
ION and anatomic variations of the IOC in the Korean population. ¹æ¹ý:We performed a retrospective review of 200 consecutive computerized
tomography of paranasal sinuses performed at our institution between
June 2023 and December 2023. We classified the IOC type according to the
A¡¯s classification and investigated the morphometry of the ION: Total
IOC length, infraorbital groove (IOG) length, infraorbital foramen-
infraorbital rim (IOF-IOR) distance, and infraorbital foramen-pyriform
aperture (IOF-PA) distance. Furthermore, we investigated whether the
presence of the Haller¡¯s cell was associated with the IOC type. °á°ú:The prevalence of IOC type was 50% in type 2, 24% in type 1, 18% in type
3, and 8% in type 4 respectively. There were no significant differences
in gender or laterality among IOC types. However, the total IOC length
was significantly longer in males. There were significant differences in
total IOC length and IOF-IOR distance among IOC types. The prevalence of
Haller¡¯s cell was not significantly different among IOC types. °á·Ð:IOF-IOR distance is longer in IOC type 3 than in other IOC types, which
makes it more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury. Detailed knowledge of the
IOC type and the morphometry of ION is necessary for surgeons to avoid
unwanted complications during sinonasal surgery. |