ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Greater palatine canal is used for maxillary nerve block. This procedure has some complications such as proptosis, blindness, and intravascular injection. This study aimed to determine the mean greater palatine canal length (CL) and its typical anatomic routes, as well as provide a reliable facial index for computing the CL by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 138 CBCT scans (65 females and 73 males) were evaluated. The path of the canal and the CL were determined by sex, age, and side. The mean distance from the inferior border of the infraorbital foramen (IOF) to the crest of alveolar bone between maxillary premolar(CMP) was measured and compared with the CL. Paired t-tests, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean of CL was 31.82 ± 1.37 mm (31.70 ± 2.44 mm on the right side and 31.94 ± 2.40 mm on the left side), and the values were 32.49 ± 2.37 mm in males and 30.55 ± 1.76 mm among females (P = 0.001). The mean distance from the IOF to the CMP was 32.01 ± 2.18 mm, which was not significantly different to the CL (P = 0.336). CONCLUSIONS: The mean CL was significantly different according to sex and side. The mean distance from the IOF to CMP was significantly different according to sex. On comparing the mean distance from the IOF to the CMP with the CL, no significant difference was observed. Therefore, the mean distance from the IOF to CMP may be a reliable clinical index.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The mastoid pneumatization begins on the 33(rd) week of embryonic life, and continuous up to 8-9 years of age. This air cells is important for surgical perspective. Inadvertent penetration through this anatomical feature during surgical procedures can be disastrous. Aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of zygomatic air cell defect (ZACD) in the Esfehanian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. 2600 panoramic radiographs of patients aged between 3 and 90 years were evaluated retrospectively to establish dominant laterality, type and grade amongst these patients. The SPSS 11.5 program was used for the statistical analysis. Mean and standard deviation were used for statistical methods in this study. RESULTS: ZACD was found in 94 cases, representing a prevalence of 3.6%. 59 cases occurred in females (62.8%) and 35 cases occurred in males (37.2%). Most cases were in their twenties. Unilateral ZACD was found in 70 patients (74.5%) with the half occurring on the right side. In 24 cases (25.5%) was bilateral. 70 of the cases (59.3%) were multilocular type, while 45 (38.1) and 3 (2.6%) were unilocular and trabecular type, respectively. 59 cases were grade 2 (62.8%) and 35 were grade 3 (37.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of ZACD amongst Iranian population was more than previous studies. In addition younger population was involved in this group. So it is important for clinicians who are planning to perform temporomandibular joint surgery to assess radiographic imaging thoroughly before the surgery to avoid intraoperative complications.
