Position of mandibular foramen and its clinical implications

Mandibular foramen is an irregular foramen located above the center on the medial surface of the ramus, containing the inferior alveolar nerve. This study aimed at determining the position of the mandibular foramen in adult Ethiopian populations. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Ethiopia, on 130 human dry adult human mandibles of unknown gender and age. The position of right and left mandibular foramina was determined in reference to the distance of different landmarks with the help of sliding digital vernier caliper. The data were analyzed using SPSS version-20. The data were compared using Student’s t-test. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The average distance of mandibular foramen from the anterior border of mandibular ramus was 23.81 ± 0.332 mm (right side) and 24.73 ± 0.456 mm (left side); from the posterior border of the ramus was 16.99 ± 0.273 mm (right side) and 16.23 ± 0.252 mm (left side), P<0.05. The mandibular foramen was located 20.19 ± 0.379 mm and 19.32 ± 0.346 mm away from the gonion of right and left sides, respectively. Furthermore, on average the mandibular foramen was away from the mandibular notch at a distance of 21.82 ± 0.356 mm (right side) and 21.65 ± 0.329 mm (left side). Conclusion: Anatomical knowledge of the average distance of mandibular foramen from various anatomical landmarks is useful for surgeons to safeguard from neurovascular complication.KeywordsMandible foramen, inferior alveolar nerve, failure of anesthesia.