The syntopy of the incisal canal (IC) is important in nasal septal surgery because it contains vessels and nerves. Trauma to the IC during septoplasty can lead to complications such as transient dental paresthesia of the maxillary incisors and septal hematoma.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To characterize the topographic anatomy of the maxillary IC from a rhinological position using a vector analysis of the CT anatomy of the nasal cavity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined 62 patients (28 women, 34 men, mean age 34.7 years) without a malformation of the hard palate and a history of surgical intervention on the nasal septum or hard palate. All patients underwent MSCT of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The «key point» relative to which the measurements were taken was the top of the nasal spine of the upper jaw, the main vector was the line corresponding to the bottom of the nasal cavity.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data obtained showed that the IC was located at a distance of 13.6 mm from the anterior nasal spine of the upper jaw with an opening zone to the premaxillary crest of the nasal cavity equal to 2.81 mm. The IC in its nasal part was cylindrical in 62.9% of patients and funnel-shaped in 37.1%. In 71% of the examined patients, the IC was opened into the nasal cavity with two, in 17.7% with one, in 9.7% with three, and in 1.6% with four incisive holes of Stenson. In relation to the anterior nasal spine of the upper jaw and the floor of the nasal cavity, the IC is directed at an angle of 74.4° in the anterior-inferior direction.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the data obtained can become the basis for the development of sparing methods of surgical intervention on the lower parts of the nasal septum, aimed at preventing the development of possible postoperative complications.