Evaluation of the Morphometry of the Stylomastoid Foramen in the Turkish Population: A Retrospective Study Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the morphometric features of the stylomastoid foramen (SMF) and the facial canal in the Turkish population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) retrospectively. Methods The randomly selected 479 patients aged from 8 to 87 years were examined, and a total of 958 CBCT images of the SMF and facial canal (FC) were analyzed. The diameter of the SMF and FC at the mastoid segment and their relation to age, gender, and side were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, one-way analysis of variance, Student's t -test, chi-squared test, Tukey's honestly significant difference, and Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test. p -Values < 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval. Results The mean age of the patients was 40.49 ± 19.73 years. The mean diameter of the right SMF was 2.24 ± 0.58 and 2.50 ± 0.63 mm in females and males. The mean diameter of the left SMF was 2.25 ± 0.56 and 2.44 ± 0.62 mm in females and males. The mean diameter of the right FC was 1.60 ± 0.35 and 1.70 ± 0.34 mm in females and males. The mean diameter of left FC was 1.55 ± 0.35 and 1.66 ± 0.33 mm in females and males. A statistically significant difference was found between the age groups in terms of the mean SMF and FC diameter on both sides ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Information obtained from this study regarding the morphometric features of the SMF and thereby FC may assist surgeons in treatment plans and reduce the risk of neurosurgical complications.