Descriptive and topographic anatomy of the accessory infraorbital foramen. Clinical implications in maxillary surgery

AIM: Study of frequency and position of accessory infraorbital foramen in a large craniological sample. METHODS: A sample of 1 064 skulls from the craniological collection of the Department of Anatomy, Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine of the University of Turin (Italy) was investigated. RESULTS: Accessory infraorbital foramen was found in 4.7% of the skulls (5.4% in male and 4.26% in female skulls) with a higher frequency on the left side, both in male and in female skulls. CONCLUSION: These results increase our knowledge of the interindividual anatomic variability of the infraorbital region and can be of help for the maxillo-facial surgeon, especially in trunk block of the infraorbital nerve.