Study of Incidence and Location of Latero-Orbital Foramen Along With Associated Clinical Implications in Adult Indian Dry Skulls

The frontal bone is an integral part of viscero-cranium. It forms the roof of the orbit and its lateral projection namely the zygomatic process of frontal bone forms part of the lateral wall of the orbit. There is a paucity of literature describing foramen in the zygomatic process of frontal bone. Hence the study was conducted. The aim of the study is to expound the incidence and location along with the clinical implications of the foramen on the zygomatic process of frontal bone designated as latero-orbital foramen. The study was conducted using 80 skulls (160 sides) of unknown age and sex. The presence of foramen was noted by visual inspection and its location was determined by measuring distances of this foramen from temporal crest and fronto-zygomatic suture by vernier caliper. The incidence and mean and SD were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2021. The number of latero-orbital foramina ranged between 0 and 3. The latero-orbital foramen was absent in 84.3% of sides. Single foramen was observed in 11.3 sides, double in 3.8% and triple in 0.6% sides. The mean distance of latero-orbital foramen from the temporal crest of the frontal bone on the right and left sides are 0.5±0.3 and 0.4±0.2 cm, respectively. The mean distance of the foramen under study from fronto-zygomatic suture on the right and left sides are 1.1±0.5 and 1.4±0.5 cm, respectively. The data related to latero-orbital foramen provided will be of paramount importance in carrying out uneventful surgeries along the lateral orbital wall and forehead.