Location and incidence of the zygomaticofacial foramen: An anatomic study.

The location and incidence of the zygomaticofacial foramen (ZFF) was studied in 80 dry skulls (160 sides) of unsexed adult skulls of West Anatolian people. The average distances from the ZFF to the frontozygomatic suture, to the zygomaticomaxillary suture, and to the inferior orbital rim were found to be 26.2 +/- 3.2 mm, 18.6 +/- 3.14 mm, and 5.94 +/- 1.43 mm, respectively. The zygomas were evaluated for the number of foramina on their facial aspects. There was none in 25 (15.6%), one in 71 (44.4%), two in 45 (28.1%), three in 10 (6.3%), four in seven (4.4%), and five in two (1.3%) sides. The ZFF was also studied for its distribution around the zygoma by dividing the surface into four anatomical areas. There was no statistical difference between the morphometrical results on both sides. Data regarding the location and variation in the number of the ZFF is important in avoiding zygomatic nerve and vessel injury during surgery, but by virtue of the great variability found, ZFF is an unreliable landmark for maxillofacial surgery. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.