Contribución al Estudio Descriptivo del Foramen y Canal Palatino Mayor / Contribution to the Descriptive Study of the Foramen and Greater Palatine Canal

RESUMEN: El foramen y canal palatino mayor (FPM y CPM) comunican boca con fosa pterigopalatina. El conocimiento adecuado de su morfología, permite el abordaje anestésico del nervio maxilar. En el vivo, el FPM está recubierto por una mucosa gruesa, debido a esto los puntos de referencia óseos y dentarios son importantes para ubicar el sitio de punción. Se ha descrito gran variabilidad en cuanto a la etnia, posición, forma, diámetros, longitudes y permeabilidad. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir éstas características en cráneos de adultos chilenos. Se utilizaron 31 cráneos de ambos sexos. En los paladares se determinó; forma, largo, profundidad y ancho. En los FPM se consideró su forma, diámetros y localización. En los CPM se registró su permeabilidad y su coincidencia con la forma del FPM. Los registros se realizaron con cámara digital, compás de precisión, caliper digital, compas tridimensional de Korkhaus y sonda metálica. Los resultados muestran un predominio de la forma cuadrada del paladar por sobre las formas triangular y redondeada. Las mediciones de su largo, ancho y profundidad indican diferencias por sexo y por etnia. La forma del FPM no muestra diferencia por sexo, primando la forma ovalada por sobre la fusiforme y la redondeada. La posición de este mismo foramen tampoco muestra diferencias sexuales, primando la posición frente al tercer molar superior, seguida por la posición frente al espacio entre segundo y tercer molar superior y por último frente al 2do molar superior. Las dimensiones del FPM son mayores en individuos masculinos. Los CPM se observaron en su totalidad permeables y los FPM no siempre coincidieron en forma con la sección transversal del CPM. Estos resultados y su comparación con la literatura indican variaciones importantes, lo que impide establecer directrices objetivas a la técnica anestésica que utiliza esta vía anatómica.

ABSTRACT: The greater palatine foramen and canal (GPF and GPC) communicate with the pterygopalatine fossa. The adequate knowledge of its morphology allows the anesthetic approach of the maxillary nerve. In vivo, the GPF is covered by a thick mucosa, therefore, the bone and dental reference points are important to locate the puncture site. Great variability has been described in terms of ethnicity, position, shape, diameters, lengths and permeability. The objective of this study was to describe these characteristics in skulls of Chilean adults. 31 skulls of both sexes were used. In the palates shape, length, depth and width were determined. In the GPF its shape, diameters and location were considered. In the GPC, their permeability and their coincidence with the shape of the GPF were recorded. The records were made with digital camera, precision compass, digital caliper, Korkhaus three-dimensional compass and metallic probe. The results show a predominance of the square shape of the palate over the triangular and rounded forms. The measurements of its length, width and depth indicate differences by sex and ethnicity. The shape of the GPF shows no difference by sex, with the oval shape prevailing over the fusiform and the rounded. The position of this same foramen also shows no sexual differences, with the position prevailing against the upper third molar, followed by the position in front of the space between the upper second and third molars and finally against the upper 2-molar. The dimensions of GPF are greater in male individuals. The GPC were found to be entirely permeable and the GPF did not always coincide in form with the cross section of the GPC. These results and their comparison with the literature indicate important variations, which prevents establishing objective guidelines for the anesthetic technique used in these cases.

Morphometric Study Of The Greater Palatine Foramen In The Dried Bones Of Eastern India

Introduction: Greater palatine foramen is a very important landmark for administering anesthesia in maxillofacialand dental surgeries. Getting the anesthesia correct each time is a technical manoeuvre, which require sufficientamount of clinical skill and experience. The anatomical landmark has been described by many authors but asper the data in the eastern Indian population it is sparse. This study aims to define the greater palatine foramenaccording to various landmarks.Materials and Methods: One hundred and three skulls from two medical colleges of eastern India were studiedby the first and second authors separately and consecutively. All the skulls were examined for any broken partsin the hard palate and in the greater palatine foramen region. Only the skulls that were intact in these areas wereconsidered for the study.Result: The mean distance of the greater palatine foramen to the incisive foramen was 35.45mm in the males and34.82mm in the females. The average distance between the greater palatine foramen and the midline maxillarysuture was 13.22mm in the males and 12.98 mm in the females. In 85.92% cases we found the GPF to be oval inshape and it opened in to the oral cavity antero-medially in 58% of the cases. With respect to the molar teeth, in42.71% of the cases the greater palatine foramen was present opposite the anterior ½ of the 3rd molar.

Pterygopalatine fossa infiltration: A radio-anatomic study among adult patients in a tertiary private hospital

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> As   a   guide   to   the   clinical   practice   of   infiltration   of   local   anesthesia   into   the pterygopalatine fossa via the greater palatine canal, this study sought to determine and record the  mean  CT  scan  measurements  of  the  following:  1)  palatal  mucosal  thickness,  2)  length  and width  of  greater  palatine  canal,  and  3)  length  and  width  of  pterygopalatine  fossa  among  adult patients in a private tertiary hospital in Quezon City.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong><br /><strong>Design:</strong> Retrospective, Descriptive Study<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Tertiary Private Hospital<br /><strong>Subjects:</strong> Paranasal Sinus (PNS) CT Scans of 113 adult patients from January 2014 to May 2014 were reviewed and evaluated. Excluded were images with pathology that distorted the anatomy of the sinuses and surrounding structures.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Our study showed average CT scan measurements of 5.98 mm palatal mucosal thickness, 16.99  mm  greater  palatine  canal  length,  18.75  mm  pterygopalatine  fossa  length,  2.37  mm greater palatine canal width and 2.58 mm pterygopalatine fossa width. Comparison of average measurements  by  sex  was  not  statistically  significant.  There  was  statistical  significance  when comparing the right palatal mucosal thickness of 5.86 mm with the left which was 6.11 mm with p-value of 0.001. Comparison between the length of the right pterygopalatine fossa of 18.48 mm with the  left side at 19.01 mm showed statistical significance with p-value of 0.01.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> As the average measurement of the mucosal palatal thickness combined with the length of the greater palatine canal was 22.97 mm, we recommend bending the needle 23 mm from  the  tip  in  a  45  degree  angle  for  adult  patients  who  will  undergo  sinus surgery,  control  of posterior epistaxis, trigeminal nerve block and minor oral cavity surgeries.</p>