Original scientific paper
The Importance of Anatomical Topography in Nasolacrimal Duct Stenosis
Božo Vojniković
; »Dr. Božo Vojniković« Eye Polyclinic, Antuna Barca 3B, Rijeka, Croatia
Snježana Bajek
; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Goran Bajek
; Clinic of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Centre, Rijeka, Croatia
Tamara Braut
; Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Centre, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
In our previous study the inclination of nasolacrimal canal in relation to Frankfurt horizontal plane has been analysed
on 71 anatomically preparated human skulls by introducing the probe through canal. The results of that study showed
that the alpha angle in the frontal plane was greater than 91° in 27% of cases, i.e. nasolacrimal canals descend diverging
in relation to the median plane and both probes are intersected on glabella. In 55% of cases, the alpha angle was less than
89° and probes diverge on glabella, and in 18% of cases the canals were parallel to the median plane. In this study nasolacrimal
ducts in patients were visualised with Omnipaque contrast that was injected with probe through the superior
lacrimal punctum. Thereafter radiography was performed. These in vivo results confi rm our previous results obtained on
the skulls. Minimal individual variations of values of the angle were observed. These fi ndings are very important in probing
of stenosis of nasolacrimal duct in infants, as the operator would not have to forcefully probe with rigid instrument
through gentle infant nasolacrimal duct. Diffi cult and serious consequences for infants arise when directing the probe
»via falsa« and that often happened in practice. The authors therefore suggest when using this old method of probing, that
this »surgical« act should be performed with »soft« probe made of nylon or silver that is very pliable and does not lead to
nasal or temporal rupture of the canal.
Keywords
inclination of nasolacrimal duct; Frankfurt horizontal plane
Hrčak ID:
147391
URI
Publication date:
26.12.2014.
Visits: 730 *