Surgical Significance of Morphometrical Analysis of the Superior Orbital Fissure: Stereological Study

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the localization, mean length, mean diameter and also the shape of the superior orbital fissure (SOF) on skulls and to find out the distances between the structure and neighbouring anatomical bony land- marks. We also applied stereological assessment method for esti- mating the surface area of SOF.

Methods: This study was performed on the craniums of 50 (100 sides) West Anatolian adult subjects. Morphometric measurements of the SOF were taken from the skulls using a Vernier caliper accurate 0.01 mm. A uniform point-grid with a point associated area of 0.25 cm2 was randomly superimposed on each SOF of dry skull. The results were evaluated statisti- cally with SPSS 22.0.

Results: Distance between SOF and foramen lacerum; the dis- tance between SOF and foramen spinosum and distance between SOF and the neigbourhood structures such as fora- men rotundum, foramen ovale were evaluated. Evaluations have already been carried on.

Conclusion: The localization of the fissure, the mean lenght and the mean diameter of SOF and the distances between the fissure and anatomical bony landmarks are of importance dur- ing neurosurgical interventions.

Keywords: superior orbital fissure, morphometry, neurosurgi- cal procedure