Resumo

RAMKISSOON, Kajal; BHIKA, Akaashni; BOBAT, Muhammad  e  RIKHOTSO, Risimati Ephraim. Morphometric Analysis of the Supraorbital Foramen in the South African Population. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2025, vol.80, n.10, pp.522-527. ISSN 0375-1562.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v80i10.20697.

INTRODUCTION: The supraorbital notch (SON) or supraorbital foramen (SOF) houses the supraorbital neurovascular bundle which supplies the scalp, skin and muscles of the upper eyelid. Surgeons operating in the region may be cautious about performing surgical procedures in this region due to the increased risk of injury AIM: To assess the morphological characteristics of the supraorbital foramen in the South African population METHODS: 108 dry skulls were examined, to determine the following morphometric data: width of SON/SOF and position of SON/ SOF relative to the nasal midline and frontozygomatic suture. Left and right sides were compared and differences between the sexes was considered RESULTS: The SON (44%) was the most commonly identified passageway, followed by the SOF (27%), absent SON/SOF (19%), double foramen (5%), co-occurrence (4%), and double notch (1%) respectively. This study localised the SON/SOF approximately 26.87 mm ± 4.21 from the nasal midline to SON/SOF in females, and 28.20 mm ± 3.68 in males. When using the frontozygomatic suture as a reference point, SON/SOF lies 28.42 mm ± 3.00 medially in females and 29.83 mm ± 2.80 in males. Positional distances were significantly greater in males than females. No significant differences were observed between the left and right sides. The width of SON was approximately 4.16 mm ± 1.81, and the diameter of SOF was approximately 2.60 mm ± 1.14 CONCLUSION: Accurate anatomical knowledge of the neurovascular architecture and foramina localisation can help avoid iatrogenic injury

Palavras-chave : Anatomy; Morphology; South Africa; Supraorbital notch; Supraorbital foramen.

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