Consistency of the Lateral Canthus as an Anatomic Landmark and its Clinical Implications

Purpose

Successful oculofacial procedures require the availability of a reliable surgical and anatomic landmark. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of the lateral canthus as a surface landmark.

Methods

Seventy‐seven from 42 Korean cadavers were dissected. The horizontal distance from the lateral canthus to the lateral orbital margin and the vertical distances from the zygomaticofrontal suture and the inferior orbital margin to the lateral canthus were measured.

Results

The mean horizontal distance from the lateral canthus to the lateral orbital margin was 7.8 mm. Although the horizontal position of the lateral canthus appears to alter with age, the variation was only 2–3 mm. The mean vertical distances from the zygomaticofrontal suture and inferior orbital margin to the lateral canthus were 8.1 and 17.2 mm. The vertical position of the lateral canthus did not vary with age, being located inferiorly within a fingernail width from the zygomaticofrontal suture

Conclusion

The lateral canthus, which is easily accessible and supported by muscular and fibrous lateral orbital attachments, exhibits small anatomic variations. Thus the lateral canthus could act as a reliable surface landmark for identifying the location of underlying structures and describing a lesion on the face.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

https://ift.tt/2SoPq4U